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WHÄNAU SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES“Now; nobody canrun us down,put us down,or drag us down.”After more than 10 years trying tosort out their problems with drugsand alcohol, Glen Innes husbandand wife, Anaru and Janine creditOranga Whänau kaimahi withhelping them towards a betterfuture for their children.“They gave us support,knowledge, truth; they’re verywise,” 51-year-old Anaru Ratahi(Waikato) says of the threeOranga Whänau kaimahi atRuapotaka Marae in Glen Innes.Both Anaru and Janine struggledwith alcohol and drug addictionThewhänau –Anaruru, littttleAnaru and Janine Rataahi.for years. “I put drinking overmy children,” Janine says. “Myparents ended up with ourchildren for a year,” she adds.Eventually, their children wereput under CYFS monitoring.Anaru entered rehab for his drugproblem and when he came outlived with his case manager forone year. “I was scared to leavein case CYFS said ‘you didn’t doenough’; so I stayed with him.”The family were referred toMargaret Ngapera after Anaruvisited Ruapotaka Maraelooking for help for his whänau.“We’d been trying to sort outour lives for 10-11 years,” hesays. “I wanted whänau help.I wanted to give up smokingand drinking.” Anaru is clearthe couple needed help “for ourrelationship and our children.”Although the family had beenliving in Manurewa when theyfirst started working withMargaret through OrangaWhänau; Anaru knew RuapotakaMarae through an Uncle whohad lived in “GI for years”. Sothey moved there.Over the years, the couplehad tried various counsellorsfrom numerous social serviceagencies. “We tried our hardest,”Anaru says. “We were havingproblems; we couldn’t talk byourselves,” Anaru remembersabout those dark days.When asked what makes OrangaWhänau different, the coupleinstantly respond; “the way theyrun the programme.”Anaru explains that thetikanga applied throughout theprogramme is important. “It wasthe fact that you knew everythingwas tika, they did karakia all thetime...and they’re strict aboutbeing honest – you gotta behonest.” Janine says simply that itis “the love that they shared.”Both are now clean. Janine forfour years while Anaru has beenoff drugs for fourteen years.Working with Margaret throughOranga Whänau has strengthenedthe couples resolve to stay clean,get work, support their communityand their children.“We’re just trying to bring ourchildren up right, make sure theyhave a good education and learnthat drugs and alcohol are not aOranga Whänau is oneof three Whänau SocialAssistance Programmesrun by Te Puni Kökiri.This feature focuseson a whänau receivingsupport from RuapotakaMarae in Glen Innes; oneof three Oranga Whänaugood path,” Anaru says.Just last year, CYFS signed thecouples’ children back to Anaruand Janine.Their 13-year-old daughter isnow dux of her Intermediateschool and team leader ofkapa haka. “If not for OrangaWhänau, we wouldn’t have ourkids,” the couple say.Anaru is also employed by alocal church as their caretaker; ajob that Margaret supported himto get. He also keeps busy doingmixed martial arts at the church.“I can’t skip so I run on the spotfor 20 minutes, do sit ups, pushups – been doing it for fourmonths now. Everyone laughsbut I don’t care.”The couple are clear that afteryears of frustration working withvarious social service agencies;Oranga Whänau has made themost difference to them.“Now, nobody can run us down,put us down, or drag us down,”Anaru says with a smile. “Idefinitely know our children aregoing to have a better future.”6TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | KÖANGA / SPRING 2012