Whanau support group to benefit young families

 

Following a successful volunteer drive which saw large numbers of ‘Sages’ sign up to assist Mangawhai’s older residents, a local social support and advocacy group are now offering hands-on help for the area’s younger residents. 

The Te Whai Sages Senior Support programme launched in June and offers local elderly a range of services including education, home visits and outings with trained volunteers. Te Whai Community Trust is now introducing Te Whai Sages Whanau Support, a programme based on the senior model with the focus on young families. Although not yet officially launched, Te Whai services coordinator Kiri Eriwata says the response from volunteers keen to participate has been extremely positive. 

“We have only just put the proposal to our Sages to see what they think… and there was such an incredibly positive response from them all to provide support for families with young children,” she says. “It has been really uplifting.”

As well as integrating with families offering in-home help and advocacy, Te Whai is also aiming to introduce wellbeing support programmes and strengthen connections with local playgroups with the new service.

On September 10 Te Whai members visited kaupapa Maori playgroup, Te Puna Reo o Te Mangawhai at Rose Madsen Cottage, Moir Street. 

Running for four years, Te Puna follows a tikanga (protocol) similar to a marae, with himene (hymn), karakia (prayer) and whakawhanaongatanga (introductions) followed by kapa haka time (action songs). Children also learn te reo through pakiwaitara (stories), kemu (games) and waiata (song), as well as get to dress up in Maori costumes and play with homemade instruments. A shared kai is also provided which is about ‘sharing resources and looking after one another’, Te Puna group coordinator and mother of two, Caren Davis says. 

“Te Puna is about helping to familiarise children and whanau with te reo, to feel confident and comfortable with the language and protocols, such as going on to a marae,” she says. “Parents also learn in a relaxed, safe and encouraging environment, it’s a supportive place to come together.”

Around 35 children from babies to six-year-olds are enrolled at Te Puna, with 10-15 children turning up each week. Summer in particular is a ‘busy and vibrant time’ Davis says, who started the playgroup to share the language she teaches at home to her two-and-a-half year-old son and five-year-old daughter, with other local families. Although the Whanau Support programme is in its development stage, she says she already knows of many areas the Sages years of experience would benefit the playgroup. 

“The administration and applying for funding and grants is something we often don’t have time for and which Te Whai are well-rehearsed in, and they can also connect us with different services such as maintenance for the premises,” she says. “These guys are wanting to help and we need some help.”

Kiri Eriwata says connecting and extending manaakitanga (care and support) and whanaungatanga (relationship) with Te Puna was important. 

“Especially to acknowledge their role in uplifting Te Ao Maori amongst our tamariki and local whanau,” she says. “We feel it was the first step in engaging with the needs of our families with young children, and look forward to working with Mangawhai playgroups and creating a safe harbour for our tamariki and whanau.”

Some of the delightful young members of Te Puna Reo o Te Mangawhai with mums, caregivers, coordinator Caren Davis (green coat) and Te Whai Sages. “Whanau support is one of our missions,” says Te Whai services coordinator Kiri Eriwata (holding white cup).

“We have only just put the proposal to our Sages… such an incredibly positive response from them all to provide support for families with young children. It has been really uplifting.”

- Kiri Eriwata