Whiti ki te Ora

In 2019, His Honour Judge Heemi Taumaunu, Chief District Court Judge, called a hui and offered a wero: “ko tenei waa” – now is the time to establish a new wānanga tikanga that is in the best interests of rangatahi/taiohi going through the youth justice process, as well as their whānau.  
 
With its historical standing in the west Auckland community and hosting Te Kōti Rangatahi, Hoani Waititi Marae is recognised as having the expertise, experience and knowledge of kaupapa Māori  to facilitate the wānanga from a Te Ao Māori world view. 

Whiti ki te Ora is a cultural programme based at Hoani Waititi marae in west Auckland for rangatahi that reside in te rohe o Waitākere. 

It supports rangatahi to complete their obligations to Te Kōti Rangatahi at the marae, under the korowai of kaupapa Māori. The twelve-week programme supports rangatahi and whānau to learn new pūkenga (skills) to add to their kete using the Whare Tapa Whā and the Marae model of practice. 

Guided by strong tikanga Māori values, the programme provides rangatahi a process to authentically engage in karakia, waiata, mau rākau, kapa haka, pepeha and whakapapa to heal from intergenerational traumas that have led them down a pathway of offending.    

On Friday 8 September 2023, Whiti ki te Ora celebrated the first pōtaetanga (graduation). This saw seven rangatahi (six tama and one kōtiro) graduate from the programme.   

The evening showcased the twelve-week journey of the rangatahi in the programme under the kaitiakitanga of their kaiako Rapine Watts, Reegan Pukepuke and Te Reo Iriaka (pictured right). It began with a pōhiri supported by marae senior leadership Tā Pāpā Pīta Sharples and Pāpā Shane White, alongside the rangatahi and kaimahi, to welcome whānau and manuhiri.   

At the formal dinner, rangatahi performed waiata to welcome and manaaki manuhiri into the wharekai, where whānau enjoyed a beautiful kai prepared by the marae ringawera.  During dinner the rangatahi shared their journey of Whiti ki te Ora, recited their pepeha and performed a haka they had written with the support of their kaiako.   

The whānau heard that two rangatahi have gained employment after doing work experience as part of the course. Their success was acknowledged by their whānau and Judge Ophir Cassidy who was in attendance on the night, also recognised the young peoples Oranga Tamariki Youth Justice social worker and Police Youth Aid officers.  

Whiti ki te Ora is not a new approach for the marae. What is new, however, is the approach and hononga (union). Oranga Tamariki kaimahi Youth Justice Manager Matua Peter Alexander, Youth Justice Supervisor Rob Black and Programme Manager Whaea Phyllis Meier have partnered alongside the marae whānau to support them to deliver this programme.    
 
The whanaungatanga and kotahitanga between Oranga Tamariki staff and the marae kaimahi acknowledges the hononga and time it takes for a transformational change, and respects the expertise brought by marae staff in delivering the programme under the Whiti ki te Ora leadership of Rapine Watts, Reegan Pukepuke and Te Reo Iriaka – with the support of Whaea Marama Castle-Brown, Kaiwhakahaere Atawhai (Operations Manager)

The first programme of 2024 is now underway and new referrals are being received for the next programme which begins in May 2024.

If you would like more information on the programme, please feel free to contact Rob Black at the Oranga Tamariki Henderson office.

Nō reira, Āio ki te rangi, Āio ki te whenua, Āio ki nga mea katoa, Tihei Mauri Ora.