Tongan Cultural Framework Boosts Social Worker’s Practice
“I want to feel ok in myself that I’m doing this right.” Natalie Hopkins is a social worker for Parentline Hamilton. She recently attended Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu’s Tongan cultural framework training, ‘Fofola e Fala Kae Talanoa e Kāinga’ in Hamilton with members of her team. She share her thoughts on the training and […]
Language and Culture Vital for Engaging With Samoan Families
A social worker’s perspective on Samoa’s Tōfā Mamao cultural framework. Mapusua Fetuao Peleti works for Emerge Aotearoa. He’s the Service Manager for their Mental Health and Addictions Pacific Community Support Team and Mobile Community Support Team in Counties Manukau. He spoke to Nga Vaka about attending the Tōfā Mamao Samoan Cultural Framework training in Manukau. […]
Turanga Māori Transforms Skin Author’s Life
Opetaia Tarata Tavita Utanga (Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mauke) is a Cook Islands skin author (tatau artist) living in Tokoroa. He talks about the benefits of applying Turanga Māori – the Cook Islands framework for transforming family harm and restoring wellbeing – in his life. “I met Tere Ford and Neville Takiri, two facilitators for Turanga Māori […]
Turanga Māori Reducing Family Harm On and Off Tokoroa Sports Fields
Turanga Māori is changing behaviours on the rugby league field in Tokoroa, according to Pacific Sharks Rugby League Chairman, Neville Takiri (Aitutaki, Ngāti Raukawa). The Cook Islands Māori coach is a Turanga Māori facilitator with his partner Tere Ford (Penrhyn) in Tokoroa. The couple were introduced to the Turanga Māori framework in Dunedin in 2018 […]
From a Culture of Silence to a Culture of Change
Proud Tuvaluan Alamai Sioni, was born and raised in the Gilbert Islands now known as Kiribati. She’s a former teacher who attended the Toku Fou Tiale Tuvalu Family Violence Training Programme. “It was very informative,” says Alamai, a mother-of-three, who says this is the kind of programme that would benefit members of the community who […]
Kiribati Youth Champions Lead Successful Vaccination Drive
“We wanted to make the Ara Covid Drive a place where i-Kiribati people felt they they belonged.” Like many in diaspora communities, i-Kiribati youth are proud of their culture, heritage and language: both as a means of survival and a strong sense of belonging, especially given the global climate impact in Kiribati. Buua Redfern and […]
A Mother’s Ngākau Aro’a (Generous Heart)
As an only girl with eight brothers, Matapo (Mata) Rakanui says she was blessed that her brothers grew up to be loving men who treated their mum, their sister (herself) and their wives and children with love and respect. It’s something she is extremely proud of considering their upbringing. “We came from a violent family, […]
Being Grounded in Cook Islands Culture Doesn’t Mean Being Stagnant
Cook Islands born and raised John Kiria from the island of Aitutaki and Rakanga is no stranger to navigating pathways of wellbeing for families under his care. As a Whānau Ora Navigator at the Mount Wellington Integrated Health Centre, John’s job is to ensure the practice is advocating for families and helping them find the […]
Vuvale Sautu (Fijian Family Well-Being) in Christchurch
“Fijians in Christchurch may be under reporting family violence incidents because of lack of support and culturally competent support workers.” That’s according to insights from the first Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu ‘Vuvale Sautu’ Fijian family violence prevention programme in Christchurch. Held over the last weekend of June, the programme yielded plenty of veitalanoa (discussion), […]
Samoan Cultural Framework Informs Disaster Response
“What happens when there’s a disaster? More violence.” Community Activator, Malia Tua’i Manuleleua (pictured above far right), from the NZ Red Cross, attended Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu’s Samoan family violence prevention and wellbeing training in 2020. So impressed was she that when Nga Vaka organisers scheduled a recent Samoan training day, Malia brought a […]