Frequently asked questions
What is Whānau as First Navigators?
Whānau as First Navigators is a Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu designed, developed, and led early support and prevention programme that focuses on strengthening tamariki and whānau.
It aims to support whānau wellbeing so that tamariki and whānau can lead their own aspirations and reduce the number of tamariki Ngāi Tahu and tamariki Māori in the takiwā interacting with Oranga Tamariki.
As the first of its kind in Aotearoa, the three-year programme is a prototype. It will run until June 2025.
What does Whānau as First Navigators do?
The Whānau as First Navigators programme has four workstreams:
Prevention – whānau awareness campaign
The campaign aims to build awareness of tamariki and whānau wellbeing, share knowledge with whānau, and promote services to improve access to supports that enable whānau to lead themselves on their own wellbeing journey.
It is on radio, social media, online, online media, these webpages, and more. The team will also share it when they connect with whānau at key iwi events such as roadshows and Hui-ā-Iwi.
Early support – whānau interaction hub
The aim is to provide early support, information, and guidance to whānau in ways that suit them and enabling an environment – an interaction hub – where whānau will naturally go for trusted support before they reach any crisis point.
Hub prototype design and development are being informed by rangatahi, whānau, and key partners.
Growing and strengthening service provider capability
The Whānau as First Navigators’ team is working with 10 accredited Ngāi Tahu and kaupapa Māori health and social service providers across the takiwā to help grow, strengthen, and build on the prevention and early support mahi they already do to support whānau in their communities towards their aspirations.
Each provider has a specialised, co-designed work programme that the team is supporting them to deliver.
Professional and culturally competent practitioners
The team plays an advocacy role in ensuring the social service workforce can deliver quality services for whānau and beyond.
The team is engaging with the care and protection workforce, inclusive of, but also beyond kaupapa Māori organisations, to create change in processes and practices that will positively impact whānau.
Is Whānau as First Navigators for Ngāi Tahu whānau only?
No, the Whānau as First Navigators programme will reach a diverse range of people across New Zealand.
What social service providers are you working with?
The team has partnered with 10 accredited Ngāi Tahu and kaupapa Māori health and social service providers across the takiwā. Find out more here.
Is Whānau as First Navigators a social services “provider”?
No, Whānau as First Navigators is not a social services provider. There are social service providers that already do great mahi with whānau across the country.
Whānau as First Navigators is a programme that supports 10 Ngāi Tahu and kaupapa Māori health and social service providers in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā, alongside three other workstreams (see the second question on this page for more information on the workstreams).
Why is Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu delivering this programme?
The funding followed Te Rūnanga and Oranga Tamariki signing a strategic partnership agreement in 2018.
The programme is a Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu designed, developed, and led early support and prevention programme that focuses on strengthening tamariki and whānau.
The programme is demonstrative of the commitment of Te Rūnanga to its vision of ensuring whānau wellbeing: “Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā, muri ake nei – For us and our children after us.”
Why is Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu only working with accredited Ngāi Tahu providers?
Whānau as First Navigators is a new programme and the first of its kind in New Zealand.
For now, the team is focused on working with selected Ngāi Tahu and kaupapa Māori providers who have social services accreditation from Te Kāhui Kāhu, an independent government business unit.
Please follow the progress on here and Te Rūnanga social media.
What is ‘social services accreditation’?
Having social services accreditation means providers are approved to deliver quality social services. It’s an assurance they can safely deliver these services to their communities.
Whānau as First Navigators works with providers that are at level three and above. This means they can deliver services under the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989, they have met a stronger set of quality standards, and they are monitored by Te Kahui Kahu, an independent government business unit.
Learn more here.
What’s the difference between Whānau as First Navigators and Whānau Ora?
Both concepts have similar beliefs and work to help improve whānau wellbeing, but there are key differences.
Whānau as First Navigators is a Ngāi Tahu designed, developed, led, and delivered programme. It aims to reduce the number of tamariki Ngāi Tahu and tamariki Māori in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā interacting with the Oranga Tamariki system. It is focused on prevention, early support, community, workforce development, and strengthening whānau before situations are in crisis.
Whānau Ora is a nationwide service that is government commissioning agency-led, driven, and funded. It is delivered by three non-government commissioning agencies and focuses on crisis intervention through to more specific whānau goals such as vocational training, immunisations, driver licensing, smoking cessation etc.
How do I engage with these social service providers?
It depends on where you live and your personal situation. If needed, the Whānau as First Navigators team can support whānau to access these services. Email [email protected].
Can whānau get funding from Whānau as First Navigators?
No, the programme does not provide funding.
I’m a health or social services provider. How do I join this kaupapa?
The team appreciates your desire to support whānau through this programme. Hopefully some of this content is helpful for you.
At this stage, the focus is on working with selected Ngāi Tahu and kaupapa Māori providers with at least level three social services accreditation.
I’m a Social Worker. Can Whānau as First Navigators help with my work with tamariki?
The team appreciates your desire to support whānau through this programme. Whānau as First Navigators is not a social services provider, it is a programme of work focused on prevention and early support.
Where did the name ‘Whānau as First Navigators’ come from?
The name Whānau as First Navigators is inspired by the story of Rākaihautū who steered the waka Uruao from Te Patu nui o Aio to Aotearoa.
It represents the strength, skill, and determination passed down to whānau through their whakapapa that gives them the innate ability to successfully navigate their own wellbeing journeys.
Whānau as First Navigators
Whānau as First Navigators is a belief that all whānau have the innate ability, derived from their whakapapa and tupuna, to be the leaders and navigators of their own journeys.
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Service providers
The Whānau as First Navigators team has formal relationships with nine accredited Ngāi Tahu and kaupapa Māori health and social service providers across the takiwā.
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