55 Farmer Crescent, Pomare

PO Box 35 – 125, Naenae

P: 04 939 8345 F: 04 939 8346

Patria 021 034 1435 Kylie 027 821 9411

ORANGA WHANAU REPORT FEB 2012 – JUNE 2012

“A community equipped, encouraged and empowered to stand strong and proud”

Table of contents

·  Oranga Whanau Report

·  Services and Events

·  Training and Workshops

·  Relevant Meetings

·  Relevant Presentations

·  Oranga Whanau Case Studies

·  Oranga Whanau Statistics

Oranga Whanau Report

The Oranga Whanau programmes provide direct, personal and practical support to caregivers and parents, especially young parents and young children, and their whanau., through sharing knowledge, practices, values and attitudes between generations. Oranga whanau promotes positive parenting, safe and healthy babies, and resilient whanau. Working out of marae/community centres and into homes and communities, through whanaungatanga we re-weave and re-connect whanau into the “tribal whariki” of strong relationships with whanau whanui and community – Te Puni Kokiri.

These years have been particularly challenging for the Pomare community; the Pomare Redevelopment Project has seen half the community demolished with no option for those who have had to move, to come back. We have been working together with local agencies, government departments and Housing New Zealand to try and make this process easier but being torn from a community you have grown up in, lived in all your life and a community you have grown to love is not so easy to overcome.

As a result, two committees have emerged (1) Positive Pomare, this is made up of government agencies (Housing NZ, Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Education, Te Puni Kokiri), local agencies (Hutt Valley District Health Board, Hutt City Council, Regional Public Health), local organisations, community representatives, and (2) Community Voice, which consists of community/residents – this group was established to (1) create a safe, unified forum for robust discussion from diverse individuals, whanau and community groups within the community, (2) act as a conduit to ensure all information is shared and discussed, (3) support the community to reach community solutions, and (4) give voice to community concerns and solutions.

Our community staged an occupation in protest against the Housing NZ process. The collective action taken was amazing and we all learnt a lot out of this – a sense of comradeship and whakawhanaungatanga was evident throughout our stay. The were many people from different areas, the whanau who came to stay, and the agencies who supported, was much appreciated. It has been a time of farewell, tears and mourning, in the same sentence it has also been a time of triumph, connectedness, tenacity, unity and strength. In fact, we were acknowledged for the good work we do at the Wellington Airport Supreme Awards and winners of the Hutt City Health & Wellbeing category, also the Hutt City Supreme Award – what an awesome achievement to be known as “an award winning community”.

We have been active in a number of successful community events, White Ribbon Day Campaign, Christmas n`da Hood, Community BBQs, Occupy Pomare & Save Our Community Campaign, Push Play in the park, and more recently the Olliehood Premiere - this showed the resilience of our community in a time of challenge. The achievements we have seen from our children and young people have been outstanding – Awarded scholarships to attend Tertiary and Secondary education schools, awards for sports, kapahaka, leadership awards and more. We also have a number of adults and older people who have enrolled in courses and currently studying – Bachelor of Social Work, Horticulture course, Business studies, Computer studies, Raranga and more. This was acknowledged when the Community House won the ACE (Adult Education) Award for supporting adult learners.

In conclusion, Pomare is a community best described by one of our long standing members – “it’s the camaraderie and whanaungatanga in the Pomare community that we are proud of, and always will be especially in difficult times. People who have climbed the ladder to prosperity and fortune should remember those less fortunate – know me, before you judge me” – Breast Cancer Survivor

Collectively we are committed to, and intend to ensure social justice, health and wellbeing, not only for our community, but communities facing similar issues under a government where the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.

Nga mihi

Patria & Kylie

Oranga Whanau

Pomare

SERVICES & EVENTS

Advocacy – wide range

Holiday Programme

Community Law

White Ribbon Day

Save Our Community

Christmas n`da Hood

Community BBQ

Occupy Pomare

Olliehood Premiere

Matariki

WORKSHOPS & TRAINING

Bachelor Social Work

Raranga – Weaving

Staff Workshops & Meetings

Community Law Workshops

First Steps to Home Ownership

Inside Out Symposium

Benefit Rights Training

RELEVANT MEETINGS

Pomare Community House Governance Board, Hutt Union Community Health Service Governance Board, Pomare 2000, Te Roopu Awhina, Taita College Marae Committee, Positive Pomare, Community Voice, Maori Health Service Development Group.

RELEVANT PRESENTATIONS

Service Food & Workers Union, National Delegates conference – Presenting “Save Our Community” Campaign

Institute of Judicial Studies, “When justice fails” seminar - Presenting “A look at resilience”

CASE STUDY 1

What happens when you don’t “know the line”; Single mother with three teenage children, two boys and a girl. The boys were barely at school, the eldest attending Alternative Education and the second attending the local College (now suspended). One weekend while the mother was at "noho" studying to gain her degree, her teenage boys got drunk and were arrested by Police. They were in Police custody for over 4hrs before they were released (15 and 13 years old), while they were in custody they were interviewed by Police without a guardian present, their Koko was in the building asking to see his mokopuna but was denied access and after shouting was asked to leave the building or he would be arrested. A formal complaint was encouraged by Oranga whanau but not laid. As a result, more teenage boys were detained at roadside on random occasions. Oranga whanau & community supports organised for the Community Law Centre "know the line - youth legal educator" sessions to be provided to the Pomare community. These sessions have proved to be of high value to the community, particularly whanau living on Farmer Crescent because over the years this type of behaviour by Police is perceived as normal, worried that they'd be harassed Police if they laid a complaint". We know that when whanau know their rights, they are less likely to let them be breached. This programme has future value because we see this as a
very good gateway programme for whanau, to spark interest and re-engage in education

CASE STUDY 2 – follow up of case study one

Mum has graduated and has a Bachelor in Social Work degree; the boys are now studying and sitting their NCEA Level 1 exams. The eldest boy has identified a possible pathway and wants to study and work toward being a dog trainer, this is an amazing achievement for him because he’s been out of school for three years (excluded from local college). The second son is working toward enrolling back into mainstream education – he really wants to go to Te Aute College, a pathway that has never been an option in previous years, up until this year when we were very fortunate and able to send two other community members – to lead the way for younger members. While there are still some issues to work through, they haven’t been arrested since J

CASE STUDY 3

Single mother of 2 boys; 13 & 18. Boys been living with her for the last couple of years as they use to live with step-father, he was granted day to day care of them, he still has day to day care of the youngest until he turns 16. Oldest boy came from Hato Paora then attended Taita College is now on a course and living with mother. Youngest goes to Te Ara Whanui both are fluent in Te Reo have a medium connection to their whakapapa. Youngest has ADHD, needs hearing aid and has behavioural issues. Mother & youngest are both receiving counselling. Youngest got into a lot of fights at school and was caught with drugs at school. There is CYFS involvement - concerns for the wellbeing and safety of the youngest – alcohol, drugs and violence. He ran away from home and stayed with other whanau. Mother and father do not get a long so communications go through a ‘middle man’. A family member stepped in and took him to live with her and her 4 children until they sorted his schooling out as mother wanted to send him to Te Aute

CASE STUDY 4 – follow up of case study three

Young boy was not accepted into Te Aute, however whanau goal is to sort reapply in 2013 when he is more settled with home and school life. Since living with his aunty his attitude at school has changed and his education is picking up really nicely, principle gave a good report at FGC on how well he is progressing since staying with his aunty. He is more respectful towards his mother and they are more appreciative of each other. His goal is to make it into Te Aute, be able to go back and live with his mother and join the navy. His mother is starting to make change at home to provide a safer environment and will be continuing counselling and attending a parenting course, although it hurt her to say she agreed to her son continuing to live with aunty until she has worked through her issues.

Oranga Whanau Statistics

Oranga Whanau Report February 2012 - May 2012 / Patria Tamaka / Kylie Preston / Total
total whanau (x04) / external providers / total whanau (x04) / external providers / total whanau / external provider
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services / 212 / - / 414 / - / 626 / -
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by age - preschool / 40 / - / 52 / - / 92 / -
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by age - primary/intermed / 32 / - / 64 / - / 96 / -
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by age - secondary / 36 / - / 50 / - / 86 / -
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by age - post/tertiary / 24 / - / 36 / - / 60 / -
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by age - adult 25+ / 80 / - / 212 / - / 292 / -
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by gender - female / 118 / - / 216 / - / 334 / -
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by gender - male / 94 / - / 198 / - / 292 / -
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by issue - aod / 16 / 2 / 30 / 7 / 48 / 9
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by issue - finances / 28 / - / 18 / 4 / 46 / 4
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by issue - housing / 12 / - / 14 / 4 / 26 / 4
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by issue - education / 48 / 2 / 20 / 4 / 68 / 6
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by issue - parenting / 8 / - / 11 / 1 / 19 / 1
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by issue - sexual health / 36 / 2 / 4 / 1 / 40 / 3
No. of whanau receiving Oranga Whanau services by issue - employment / 12 / - / 6 / 1 / 18 / 1
Total number of whanau & contact / 160 / 6 / 103 / 22 / 263 / 28