by Ngaropi Cameron, Dr Leonie Pihama, Rawinia Leatherby and Awhina Cameron

A Report by Tu Tama Wahine o Taranaki Inc to the Lottery Community Sector Research Fund

Tu Tama Wahine o Taranaki have undertaken this research project as a part of a process of reclaiming and revitalising traditional knowledge that expresses the position and status of tamariki within our whānau as defined within Taranaki tikanga.

He Tupuna he mokopuna. Mā wai e whakakī i ngā whawharua o ngā mātua
Tupuna? Mā ā tātou mokopuna.! He mokopuna he Tupuna.

A recent UNICEF report ‘Kids Missing Out’, and a range of reports over the past 5 years from the Child Poverty Action Group highlight that there are large, and growing numbers, of tamariki within Aotearoa that are living within poverty. This situation is unacceptable.

What is also unacceptable is the large numbers of tamariki that experience neglect, abuse and/or live in a context of Family Violence. The reports related to poverty and those related to abuse and violence within whānau highlight a wider societal issue with how tamariki are positioned.

The lives of our future generations must be accorded more status within Aotearoa society, only then will we see true interventions happening at the levels of whānau, hapū, iwi, communities and government agencies.

read and download full report from here.