Purpose
1. Te Ao Kohatu – Principled framing of best practice with Mokopuna Māori
The purpose of this literature review was to:
- Examine the national and international literature on Indigenous theoretical frameworks and their applications to social work practice.
- Inform the development of an Indigenous and bi-cultural principled framework, in the context of statutory social work, to advance mokopuna and whānau wellbeing.
2. Te Toka Tūmoana - Tangata Whenua and Bicultural Principled Wellbeing Framework
This paper provides an overview of how Te Toka Tūmoana - Tangata Whenua and Bicultural Principled Wellbeing Framework was developed by Child, Youth and Family (CYF) for internal use by practitioners. Grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi (1840), Pūao-Te-Ata-Tū (1988) and the Child, Young Persons and Their Families Act (1989), Te Toka Tūmoana responded to CYF’s priority to “work together with Māori” embedded in their Mā Mātou, Mā Tātou Strategic Plan (2012).
3. Development of the Mana-Enhancing Paradigm for Practice
This short paper traces the history of Te Ao Māori values and tikanga that culminated in the development of the mana-enhancing paradigm for social work practice.
The purpose is to inform a statutory social work practice paradigm shift for Oranga Tamariki from a western/Eurocentric position to a Māori-centred position. It draws from academic discourse, oral narratives and research relating to Te Ao Māori and social work.
Methodology
1. Te Ao Kohatu – Principled framing of best practice with Mokopuna Māori
This report reviews the national and international literature on indigenous social work theoretical and practice frameworks for mokopuna and whānau wellbeing within statutory social work. Before looking at these frameworks and their development it is important to review the position of Indigenous children in today’s child welfare system as a starting point. As the whakatauki below suggests, it is important to have an understanding of the journey of Indigenous children and their families to be able to respond to and support their ongoing wellbeing (states of ‘Ora’). The report will then look at the national and international literature on Indigenous frameworks and their applications to social work practice. Comment will be made and discussed in relation to Aotearoa New Zealand’s statutory Child Youth and Family Indigenous and Bicultural Principled Framework (Strategic and Practice) (IBPF) in the context of advancing
mokopuna and whānau wellbeing.
2. Te Toka Tūmoana - Tangata Whenua and Bicultural Principled Wellbeing Framework
Aligning with the whakatauākī above, this paper will provide a clear overview of how Te Toka Tūmoana was developed by Child, Youth and Family (CYF) for internal use by practitioners. Grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi (1840), Pūao-Te-Ata-Tū (1988) and the Child, Young Persons and Their Families Act (1989), Te Toka Tūmoana responded to CYF’s priority to “work together with Māori” embedded in their Mā Mātou, Mā Tātou Strategic Plan (2012).
The co-construction was led by the Office of the Chief Social Worker (OCSW) and CYF Māori leadership from 2013 to 2015. Te Toka Tūmoana was built on the integrity and distinctness of Te Ao Māori beliefs and practices, to advance
tamariki/mokopuna ora within the context of statutory social work. Co-construction was triangulated between internal CYF kaimahi, external stakeholders and a strong evidence base.
A bicultural approach which reflected the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (partnership, participation and protection) combined the knowledge of both tangata whenua and tauiwi to progress culturally responsive practice. Whilst thorough planning and design advanced Te Toka Tūmoana to a Trial and Evaluation phase in two regions, it was not implemented nationally.
The purpose of this paper is to support Oranga Tamariki in activating Te Toka Tūmoana as the model for working with Māori as part of a wider effort to shift statutory social work in Aotearoa to a Māori-centred practice position. The next
phase in this development is to transform Te Toka Tūmoana from a framework to an applied model of practice.
3. Development of the Mana-Enhancing Paradigm for Practice
This paper summarises the development and components of a manaenhancing paradigm for practice. The purpose is to inform a statutory social work practice paradigm shift for Oranga Tamariki from a western to a Māori-centred practice position. It draws from academic discourse, oral narratives and research relating to Te Ao Māori and social work. This paper does not focus on mana enhancing applied practices but the development over the past 40 years of the overarching components of a mana-enhancing paradigm to inform practice.
Key Results
1. Te Ao Kohatu – Principled framing of best practice with Mokopuna Māori
- Indigenous children are overrepresented in every phase of child welfare intervention
- Many Indigenous communities experience high levels of intergenerational trauma as a result of colonisation, with its associated social and economic disadvantage which impacts on the wellbeing of their children.
- There is scarce literature on Indigenous social work theoretical and practice frameworks within statutory social work. However, Indigenous social work that is guided by Indigenous participation and experiences has, at its heart, human rights and social justice.
- Kaupapa Māori theoretical frameworks are grounded on the notion that te reo and tikanga Māori are both valid and legitimate, and provide both the conceptual understandings and practices to bring about change for Māori whānau.
- A bi-cultural approach, which combines the knowledge and practice that both Māori and tauiwi bring to social work practice allows workers to develop culturally sensitive and responsive practice.
- The notion of self-determination, partnership and indigenous rights that underpin contemporary culturally responsive social work practice in Aotearoa New Zealand can be traced back to the essence and spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi.
2. Te Toka Tūmoana - Tangata Whenua and Bicultural Principled Wellbeing Framework
The paper describes the engagement approach used to develop this bi-cultural framework, which was intended for use both at a strategic and practice level. The four key phases to the work were:
- A bicultural approach to developing Te Ao Māori wellbeing principles
The process to agree the eight principles is described: Tikanga, Te Reo Māori, Whakamanawa, Wairuatanga, Kaitiakitanga, Whakapapa, Manaakitanga and Rangatiratanga. The final draft was accepted by Te Pōtae Kōhatu Māori on the 11th of October 2013 and all eight guiding principles were approved by agency leaders later that year.
- Meeting at the Border
At the border of engagement are tangata whenua and tauiwi who have an obligation to work together for the core purpose of protecting and safe-guarding tamariki/mokopuna Māori. In the past, Māori have entered border relationships with tauiwi from positions of deficit and marginalisation. Engaging parties must address inequitable power relationships, hidden agendas and historical patterns of behaviour, if tamariki/mokopuna and whānau Māori wellbeing is to be fully addressed.
- Co-construction
Co-construction refers to tangata whenua and tauiwi CYF staff along with external stakeholders including whānau, iwi and hapū forming relationships and building knowledge about the framework with each other. To co-construct is to construct with others.
- Triangulation
The indigenous and bi-cultural principled framework that emerged was tested with internal stakeholders, external stakeholders and against the literature and data.
3. Development of the Mana-Enhancing Paradigm for Practice
A Mana-enhancing paradigm for practice has been developed and enriched over the past 40 years by Māori lived experiences, Māori practitioners and academics through a variety of practice, research and writings. There were also contributions from tauiwi bicultural advocates who recognised its importance within the Aotearoa New Zealand context. It was influenced by revolutionary material produced by international, national and indigenous writers over four decades (1952-1989). The Mana-enhancing paradigm for practice has five core components set out in the next
section which speaks to its set of professional values and principles. These values, being the foundation that mana-enhancing practice was built and developed through, represent action, recognition and empowerment.
The following core components of Mana-enhancing practice outline key obligations for all Oranga Tamariki staff to implement:
Te Ao Māori is valuable knowledge
Understanding that indigenous world views and concepts are valuable, relational and restorative, provides the foundation for mana-enhancing practice. Te Ao Māori has fashioned ways for Māori to live life by (Pohatu, 2008) and has values, protocols and processes which were designed to safeguard wellbeing. Māori worldviews are diverse, distinctive and different to western worldviews. However, shared values and beliefs can be overtly identified.
The significance of history
Recognise and enact the historical relationships and obligations between Māori and tauiwi especially within context of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The impact of colonisation resulted in high levels of socio-economic disparity and loss for Māori.
Contemporary
social work in Aotearoa works through these inequities, aiming to strengthen the conditions and cultural foundations that whānau require (Dobbs, 2015). The notions of self-determination, partnership, and indigenous rights that underpin contemporary culturally responsive social work practice can be traced back to the essence and spirit of Te Tiriti.
Valuing narratives as cultural identity
Recognise the importance of cultural narratives within social work promoters of Māori identity and healing. Oral traditions, whakapapa and whānau narratives weave together knowledge and histories which are key factors of Māori identity. These factors promote both individual and collective wellbeing, and influence Māori ways of knowing.
Māori concepts of wellbeing
Gain a deeper understanding of all foundational Te Ao Māori wellbeing concepts. Mana-enhancing practice identifies tapū, mauri and oranga as central principles of wellbeing that are irrevocably connected to each other in assessing trauma and wellbeing. It uses these to assist in maintaining, restoring and strengthening resilience, and protecting the health and wellbeing of tamariki. The application of all foundational Te Ao Māori concepts uses appropriate knowledge, skills and engagement approaches.
Principled practice
Understanding the importance of knowing one’s own principles guiding their practice and acknowledging their role in someone else’s wellbeing or healing journey. This means deliberate focus on the factors that construct, maintain and enhance therapeutic relationships and practices.