Navigating success

A bid to boost family wellbeing and help local families achieve their dreams has seen a vital community support initiative grow.

The programme for whānau has been expanded in Marlborough, with the community’s Omaka Marae the latest to offer the successful Whānau Ora service.

Two new navigators will deliver the initiative, helping achieve aspirations, and encouraging the wellbeing of families.

Navigator Deedee Bancroft Wickens says the programme is about the community supporting community.

“It’s a natural progression for Omaka to have one here,” she says.

“We have to make sure the need is there – that people know we’re here to help them.”

The full-time position was split into two part time roles, with Deedee joined by Nikki Brown.

Nikki, of Ngati Maniapoto, says getting to know her whakapapa drew her to the Whānau Ora programme.

“It’s supporting our own whānau to realise their own potential,” she says.

“It doesn’t have to be problem based; it can be business based.

“It’s identifying what success looks like to them.”

Nikki says Whānau Ora takes a kaupapa Māori approach to improve the wellbeing of whānau as a group.

She says they don’t just focus on the success of one person, but get the whole family involved.

“We’re looking at a whole whanau and their wellbeing.

“It’s getting a broader view, and getting the whole family involved. It’s not just the success of one person.”

She says the type of support they offer varies, from sorting out drivers’ licenses to setting up businesses.

Deedee says a lot of people are doing what they’ve always done.

“You can get stuck in a rut. Sometimes, you just need the right questions to get the brain turning over.

“It’s asking what makes them happy, if there’s goals they want to achieve. Making plans for one, three or five years - and how to get there,” Deedee says.

“It might be doing up your house.

“What are the first steps? Do you need to go to council, or find a builder?”

She says Whanau Ora is doing what whanau used to do back in the day - working together to get kai.

Founded by Dame Tariana Turia in 2010, the cross-government programme is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Health, Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Social Development.

The programme is currently offered by Ngati Rarua, Maataa Waka and Waikawa Marae.

“We look for people to help, and people can sign up,” Deedee says.

Deedee, of Ngati Parou, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Tūwharetoa, says the initiative is for Omaka marae people initially, but as it’s a community-based, anybody who wants to be part of a marae can go there.

Nikki says the pandemic has got everybody in a fight or flight sense.

“There’s a lot of anxiety,” Deedee says.

“Money pressures for those that don’t want the vaccine. Social pressures.

“It’s checking in on our people and finding what we can to support – even if it’s just a cup of tea and a chat,” she says.

“We don’t just do whanau Ora as a job – we live it.”

The Whānau Ora programme is available now from Omaka Marae.