Mokopuna Ora

Sadly, we are aware that many of our whaanau are in crisis and need our help to rebuild in the face of chronic social issues such as domestic violence and addiction. Working collaboratively with Oranga Tamariki, we seek to achieve enduring outcomes for our tamariki mokopuna.

He taonga te mokopuna – children are a treasure

Chronic social issues are often intergenerational legacy issues and require holistic and tikanga-based responses that draw upon the strengths within the wider whaanau and hapuu.

As a response, we have developed our Mokopuna Ora framework. This model has resulted in many of our tamariki and mokopuna remaining safely within their wider whaanau rather than being uplifted by the state. Given its success, we are seizing the opportunity presented by the Government’s call to reform Oranga Tamariki to expand our Mokopuna Ora programme.

In 2020 – 2021, Mokopuna Ora successfully improved the wellbeing outcomes for 94 Waikato whaanau with reports of concern for 260 mokopuna. An overwhelming majority or 99 percent of cases had their care and protection concerns addressed with solutions informed by a whaanau- led process, of which 70 whaanau and 203 mokopuna successfully exited the Oranga Tamariki system completely. This mahi alongside whaanau also informs Mokopuna Ora advocacy at a strategic level within the care and protection sector, where we actively input into legislation, strategies, policies, processes, practices, and procedures that impact whaanau.

Mokopuna Ora started in 2015 and entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Oranga Tamariki in 2019. The aim of Mokopuna Ora is to stop mokopuna being taken into the care of the State, by supporting whaanau and creating pathways that are whaanau-led and mokopuna centred to help them achieve mana motuhake. Mokopuna Ora do this by working in the community as independent tribal advocates’ that specialise in supporting whaanau who come to the attention of Oranga Tamariki, to navigate the care and protection system.

Image

Strategic partnership with Government

The aim of Mokopuna Ora is to stop mokopuna being taken into the care of the State, by supporting whaanau and creating pathways that are whaanau-led and mokopuna centred to help them achieve mana motuhake.

The Mokopuna Ora Sustainability Project is a whaanau-led and owned approach to support positive outcomes for whānau and mokopuna navigating New Zealand’s complex care and protection system. Mokopuna Ora aims to disrupt the current system within Oranga Tamariki and continue a substantial downward trend of Waikato-Tainui mokopuna entering care and remaining in care.

Mokopuna Ora started in 2015 and entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Oranga Tamariki in 2019.

There are three priority areas of mahi:

  1. To prevent mokopuna taken into Ministry custody with the support of Iwi Advisors.
  2. Mokopuna are cared for by their own immediate whaanau if possible.
  3. Tribal members become approved carers for their tamariki and mokopuna.

To date, our Iwi Advisors have worked a number of whaanau and their mokopuna who have come into the notification process of the Ministry and Waikato-Tainui.

This process has seen many mokopuna remain in whaanau care due to advocacy, information and empowering whaanau to make necessary changes for their mokopuna.

If you would like to know more about Mokopuna Ora, then contact us through 0800 TAINUI (824684) or [email protected]

Visit Oranga Tamariki website
Image