Whanau Ora : Report of the Taskforce on Whanau-Centred Initiatives
Whanau Ora : Report of the Taskforce on Whanau-Centred Initiatives
Whanau Ora : Report of the Taskforce on Whanau-Centred Initiatives
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with c<strong>on</strong>sumerism, mass marketing ploys and value systems that favour<br />
individual gains over collective resp<strong>on</strong>sibility. N<strong>on</strong>e<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>less, as major forces<br />
within society, <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> potential <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whānau to actively foster healthy lifestyles for<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir members is high. In order to do so effectively, wider whānau leadership,<br />
coupled with <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> best available informati<strong>on</strong> and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> intergenerati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
transmissi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> values and models, will be important.<br />
Full Whānau Participati<strong>on</strong> in Society<br />
6.2.8 Whānau are c<strong>on</strong>duits to society and societal instituti<strong>on</strong>s and a measure<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Whānau <str<strong>on</strong>g>Ora</str<strong>on</strong>g> is <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> extent to which whānau members can participate in<br />
society. Full participati<strong>on</strong> is a goal that recognises ready whānau access<br />
to community facilities and <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> ability to benefit from community goods<br />
and services. Access to health services, quality schooling, recreati<strong>on</strong>al<br />
facilities, housing, commercial ventures, meaningful employment and<br />
levels <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> income adequate for whānau needs are necessary for whānau<br />
wellbeing. Successful participati<strong>on</strong> in educati<strong>on</strong> is a critical determinant<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> wider participati<strong>on</strong> and is positively associated with better health, higher<br />
incomes, adequate housing and healthier lifestyles. Participati<strong>on</strong> is inhibited<br />
by historic patterns <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> exclusi<strong>on</strong>, gatekeepers who are selective, whānau<br />
alienati<strong>on</strong> from societal goals and values, and ec<strong>on</strong>omic barriers that act<br />
as deterrents. But participati<strong>on</strong> is accelerated by whānau-friendly services,<br />
active whānau involvement in decisi<strong>on</strong>-making and planning, affordability<br />
and whānau leadership that actively engages with community leaders<br />
and instituti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
6.2.9 Material and human resources are necessary for Whānau <str<strong>on</strong>g>Ora</str<strong>on</strong>g> and a<br />
two-way exchange between whānau and society is an essential precursor<br />
to <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> goal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> participati<strong>on</strong>. Full and equitable participati<strong>on</strong> in society is a<br />
right. But, for many, whānau exclusi<strong>on</strong> from society has been a functi<strong>on</strong><br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> instituti<strong>on</strong>al cultural blindness. Agencies that fail to align <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g>ir services<br />
to whānau cultural norms will perpetuate a sense <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> exclusi<strong>on</strong> and will<br />
not be able to achieve <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> best possible outcomes. Māori-led services in<br />
health, educati<strong>on</strong> (including early childhood and tertiary educati<strong>on</strong>) and<br />
social welfare have dem<strong>on</strong>strated that, when a service recognises<br />
Māoricultural values in protocols for assessment, management and<br />
follow-up, participati<strong>on</strong> rates are higher. Similarly when a whānau<br />
approach to engagement is encouraged, Māori participati<strong>on</strong> increases.<br />
Encourage whānau to be<br />
part <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>the</str<strong>on</strong>g> soluti<strong>on</strong>.<br />
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