Whaanau Strand

Kootuitui ki Papakura had the support of the Southern Initiative (Auckland Council) and an independent consultant in the facilitation of a co-design process (http://www.aucklandco-lab.nz/) to determine the elements of the Homes strand work programme.

KEY ASPECTS

This approach was unique to align with better outcomes for tamariki, which include:

- it is a whaanau-centric process (starts with the lived experience of whaanau and involves them throughout the process)

- it builds whaanau capacity (two capacity-building workshops have been held with whaanau participants)

- it is strengths-based (whaanau are recognised as the experts in their lives)

- it is holistic (it seeks to understand all the enablers and barriers that whaanau have to supporting better outcomes for their tamariki)

In addition, the Kaupapa Māori Research Framework below is weaved into the work at the various stages.

The 3 Phases of the Process

Completed between August and December 2016:

1. Ethnography (school boards gave their permission for whaanau to be invited to participate and conversations with whaanau took place);

2. Insight mining and synthesis (conversations with whaanau were completed and transcribed);

3. Ideation and prototyping (insights raised in these conversations were synthesised into six big ideas (see 'Insights' below) and further refined (during the co-design sprint) and tested (during the sprint and at Christmas in the Pa).

Insights

The 18 whaanau conversations that took place resulted in six broad themes:

1. Whakawhanautanga: Connectedness and caring for others

2. Safety in the neighbourhood and at school

3. Tōku kainga, Tōku whare: Home - where whānau values are practised and there are some structural issues with homes

4. Aspiring to better futures for tamariki

5. Parenting - the need for self-care and the difficulties associated with blended families and co-parenting

6. Papakura - pride in Papakura and wanting to see it thrive