Whanau Ora : Report of the Taskforce on Whanau-Centred Initiatives

unemployment benefits, <strong>the</strong>re was none<strong>the</strong>less expectation that iwi
would add value to those services and would contribute to <strong>the</strong> aspects
<strong>of</strong> whānau wellbeing that hinged on cultural affirmation, participation
in tribal ventures and heritage protection.
vi. The range <strong>of</strong> organisations represented at <strong>the</strong> engagement hui
confirmed for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Taskforce</strong> that Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> transcends sectors.
Because it is concerned with socio-economic wellbeing, as well as
cultural and environmental integrity, Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> cannot be fully
addressed from <strong>the</strong> perspective <strong>of</strong> any single sector. Taxation policies,
for example, have strong implications for whānau wellbeing; <strong>the</strong> quality
<strong>of</strong> housing is an important determinant <strong>of</strong> whānau health; employment
can <strong>of</strong>fer whānau opportunities for financial independence; and being
able to succeed to Māori land ensures a continuing interest in a whānau
estate. The <strong>Taskforce</strong> was repeatedly reminded that sectoral approaches
have <strong>the</strong> potential to create fragmentation, not only reducing <strong>the</strong>
chances <strong>of</strong> good outcomes but also adding a high degree <strong>of</strong> confusion
for whānau.
4.2.3 In summary, based on <strong>the</strong> views expressed at engagement hui and in
written submissions, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Taskforce</strong> has been able to identify six key
characteristics <strong>of</strong> a Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> philosophy. Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> is distinctive
because it recognises a collective entity, endorses a group capacity for
self-determination, has an intergenerational dynamic, is built on a Māori
cultural foundation, asserts a positive role for whānau within society and
can be applied across a wide range <strong>of</strong> social and economic sectors. The
<strong>Taskforce</strong> agrees that toge<strong>the</strong>r those characteristics give definition and
distinctiveness to Whānau <strong>Ora</strong>.
4.3 Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> as a Model <strong>of</strong> Practice
4.3.1 A Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> approach to health and social services is not new.
The <strong>Taskforce</strong> heard that community services have been well aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
collective needs <strong>of</strong> whānau for years but <strong>the</strong>ir efforts to meet <strong>the</strong>m have
<strong>of</strong>ten been constrained by narrowly constructed sectoral boundaries.
None<strong>the</strong>less, many practitioners described how <strong>the</strong>y had intuitively
embraced <strong>the</strong> Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> philosophy and had been able to incorporate
holistic approaches in <strong>the</strong>ir day-to-day practices, even without recognition
or appropriate remuneration. Many practitioners were acutely mindful <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
futility <strong>of</strong> interventions with individuals that took little account <strong>of</strong> whānau.
They recounted numerous incidents where crises affecting individuals were
closely connected to whānau functioning but for a number <strong>of</strong> reasons no
effort was made to address those wider family concerns.
4.3.2 A number <strong>of</strong> community practitioners explained to <strong>the</strong> <strong>Taskforce</strong> that <strong>the</strong>y
regarded a Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> approach as one that was driven by <strong>the</strong> aspirations,
needs and realities <strong>of</strong> whānau as a whole, ra<strong>the</strong>r than by <strong>the</strong> interests <strong>of</strong>
an agency that might be concerned only with one or two aspects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
whānau. A preference for holistic interventions is consistent with a
whānau-centred practice model ins<strong>of</strong>ar as it is built around group needs
and objectives ra<strong>the</strong>r than solely around <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> individuals.
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