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

6 Whānau-Centred Initiatives:
The Main Goals
Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> is going to
take us <strong>the</strong>re and it has been
since <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> time
– those important values
governed by principles <strong>of</strong>
whenua ki te whenua.
6.1 Three Goal Sets
6.1.1 The similarities between whānau-centred initiatives and Whānau <strong>Ora</strong>,
and <strong>the</strong> several meanings attached to Whānau <strong>Ora</strong>, were noted in
section 4. Section 6 builds on <strong>the</strong> earlier discussion and identifies <strong>the</strong>
main goals <strong>of</strong> Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> as <strong>the</strong>y can be applied to whānau-centred
initiatives. The goals are largely drawn from written submissions and
oral statements heard at hui.
6.1.2 Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> is about wellness, health and resilience. It is also an
aspirational statement and implies attaining and maintaining wellbeing
for <strong>the</strong> whānau as a whole and for <strong>the</strong> members <strong>of</strong> whānau. Wellbeing
encompasses social, cultural, economic and environmental dimensions and
has particular implications for whānau health, education, housing, income,
employment, relationships and wealth. It is about individuals and collectives,
young and old, resilience and potential, households, families, extended
families and self-determination.
6.1.3 While Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> has a single overarching aim – best outcomes for
whānau – <strong>the</strong> <strong>Taskforce</strong> has identified three sets <strong>of</strong> goals to underpin <strong>the</strong>
broad aim:
• whānau goals
• goals for effective service delivery
• goals for efficient governance and management.
6.1.4 The three sets <strong>of</strong> goals are interrelated: <strong>the</strong> governance goals determine
<strong>the</strong> parameters for service providers, and <strong>the</strong> goals <strong>of</strong> service provision
contribute to whānau goals. Importantly <strong>the</strong> relationships between <strong>the</strong> goals
reflect <strong>the</strong> relationships that are necessary between all key players in <strong>the</strong>
Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> chain. Unless those who provide services to whānau are able
to establish sound working relationships with whānau, <strong>the</strong>ir effectiveness
will be limited. Similarly, <strong>the</strong> relationships between <strong>the</strong> policy makers,
practitioners in <strong>the</strong> field and whānau <strong>the</strong>mselves need to be built around
sound knowledge, mutual respect and shared commitment to outcomes.
6.1.5 Whānau goals represent <strong>the</strong> highest level <strong>of</strong> goals ins<strong>of</strong>ar as <strong>the</strong>y embody
<strong>the</strong> overall purposes <strong>of</strong> Whānau <strong>Ora</strong>. The <strong>Taskforce</strong> strongly believes
that all parties in <strong>the</strong> Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> system should be clearly focused on
positive outcomes for whānau – whānau, service providers and those who
are involved in governance and management. In contrast to a deficit model
premised on <strong>the</strong> notion <strong>of</strong> ‘catch-up’, a philosophy <strong>of</strong> whānau wellbeing and
whānau opportunity should permeate all aspects <strong>of</strong> Whānau <strong>Ora</strong>.
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