An early evaluation of the first year’s work of the Ngā Tini Whetū pilot has found government agencies are learning how they can deliver better outcomes by taking a Whānau Ora approach.

Te Puni Kōkiri Director Operations, Jesse Roth said key to Whānau Ora is placing whānau at the centre.

“Nga Tini Whetu is still in its infancy but the evaluation found that it has real potential to achieve positive outcomes for whānau and tamariki because of the collaborative approach.

“What we know is that when we put whānau at the centre rather than individuals everyone does better,” Jesse said.

Ngā Tini Whetū is being supported by Te Puni Kōkiri, Oranga Tamariki and ACC in partnership with the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency so more whānau can access early support tailored to their needs, rather than at a crisis stage.  It incorporates whānau-centred co-design, pooling of funding and resources, and devolving management to local people.

Paiheretia te Muka Tāngata – Uniting the Threads of Whānau is another example of Te Puni Kōkiri extending the Whānau Ora approach, working with Ara Poutama (Corrections) and the Ministry for Social Development

Paiheretia is being trialled in Hawke’s Bay and Te Tai Tokerau and aims to help tāne and their whānau engaged in the Corrections system to achieve their goals. The kaupapa is commissioned and funded through iwi and local providers and involves developing a Kaiarataki navigator workforce to support tāne and their whānau, both inside and outside of the prison environment.

It forms part of the Ara Poutama Māori Pathways programme using a whānau-centred approach to improve wellbeing and supports the Ara Poutama Hōkai Rangi Strategy.

Paiheretia has been co-designed with tāne and whānau Māori with lived experience, alongside hapū, iwi, Māori service providers and hapori Māori.