Dynamics of Whanaungatanga 

Teaching whanaungatanga or family values has become the central plank in a programme aimed at helping offenders turn their lives around.

Albert Robertson from Kawei Ltd. runs workshops drawing on material originally developed by Catholic priest Father Henare Tait, who defined eight Maori concepts of 
whanaungatanga.

"They're sort of universal values. The goal of the programme is to address, enhance and restore the tapu of people so they have the mana to achieve their goals in life.

"We've put these concepts around it as a way to help people apply these concepts in their lives, in their relationships, in any situation they find themselves in," Mr Robertson says.

He and fellow facilitator Ted Ratana recently delivered the week long tikanga Maori programme for parolees Manukau Urban Maori Authority which included modules on the dynamics of whanaungatanga as well as guest speakers talking about family violence prevention and healthy  lifestyles.

"Some were saying if they'd known this a few years ago, their whole lives would have been different," Mr Robertson says.

Kawei has also run whanaungatanga workshops for Child, Youth and Family Services, the Department of Corrections, the Ministry of  Education and Maori Television.