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WHÄNAU SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMESproviders in the Tämaki Makaurauregion. Ruapotaka is a base for a rangeof programmes and initiatives includingOranga Whänau and Kaitoko Whänau;two of the three Whänau SocialAssistance Programmes run by Te PuniKökiri. It was one of the seven serviceproviders selected nationally to pilot thedelivery of Oranga Whänau.Kaimahi - (lefttoright):MargaretNgapera,Bill Welslsh,Magggiegie Kempmp.“Helping our people to finda way that suits them.”The three Oranga Whänau kaimahiat Ruapotaka Marae share manythings in common; passion for theirwork, love for the people they workwith, and a belief that ultimatelythe goal of their mahi is “makingfamilies safe” in a way that worksfor the whänau.Collectively Margaret Ngapera,Maggie Kemp, and Bill Welshoffer two hundred years of life’sexperiences and wisdom to thevarious whänau they work withthrough Oranga Whänau. Eachalso share a deep devotion totheir faith; Margaret as a Baptist,Maggie with Destiny, and Billthrough the Ratana Church.All three have been working atRuapotaka Marae since OrangaWhänau was launched in late2009. In fact, the programmewas launched by the Minister ofMäori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples atthe Glen Innes marae.However the trio have all workedvoluntarily in the social servicesupport area for many years. Thedifference now is that they arebeing paid to do what they loveand what they are good at.Te Puni Kökiri contracts sevendifferent Mäori providerorganisations from around themotu to provide advice andsupport to young Mäori parentsand their whänau. The kaimahi,who work in teams of three, arekaumätua whose years of lifeexperience and wisdom shapestheir relationships with whänau.Guided by principles ofwhanaungatanga, whängai,tiakitanga, and wai ora, theOranga Whänau kaimahi havethe ability to connect withwhänau, earn their trust, andengage with empathy, caring,patience and understanding.Day-to-day support includesparenting and home-makingadvice as well as dealing withfinancial hardship; an issuefor 90% of families in OrangaWhänau. Ultimately, kaimahiaim to build the resilience ofeach whänau, supporting themtowards regaining ownershipand independence.The team approach is essentialto providing relevant andmeaningful support to whänau.“The three of us work with eachother,” Margaret says. “Wesupport each other. Some of ushaven’t been through some ofwhat our families have but wecan share and reflect.”All three kaimahi commentedabout how far Anaru and JanineRatahi had come in the threeyears each had known them;especially since there had beenmany years lost through differentcounsellors. “It’s awesome tosee how they are today and howthey try to make a go in theirlives,” Margaret says.Nodding in agreement, Maggieadds; “It’s about seekingand seeking and having thatstaying power to find whatworks for you.”Maggie remembered her firstmeeting with the Ratahi couple;“I didn’t even know they werea couple – they were sittingseparately from each other. Nowthey are together, having dealtwith their issues.”All three agree that workingas Oranga Whänau kaimahi “isjust like working with your ownwhänau”. They also acknowledgethe support of Ruapotaka Maraeand the trust and respect ofthe marae management andgovernance teams.“I love that it’s on a marae,”Maggie says. “There are differentthings happening that youcan connect the family to aswell and I’m happy there’ssomewhere that they can comethat is not the other agencies.”Reflecting on their work, Maggiesays; “I don’t find it challenging– it’s rewarding. Even if it takesa little bit longer than the norm.Isn’t it better to see the whänauwellbeing improve?”As all three agree, “we arehelping our people to find a waythat suits them”TE PUNI KÖ KIRI | KÖ KIRI | KÖ ANGA / SPRING 20127