Brainwave Launch – A Workshop Aimed at Whanau Maori
Brainwave Trust Aotearoa officially launched the
Tiakina te Tamaiti Workshop
at Auckland University’s
Waipapa Marae on Thursday, 5 September.
Tiakina te
Tamaiti has been specifically designed for a whānau
Māori
audience with the incorporation of te reo Māori
me ona tikanga, whakataukī,
pūrakau Māori and imagery
from a Māori world view.
The half-day workshop answers
the need from professional organisations
working with
whānau and provides an opportunity to engage parents and
whānau
in ways that will motivate and inspire them to
give their tamariki the best
possible start in life.
“We hope to complement the work that parents and
professionals are already
doing to help our tamariki to
thrive” says Kaihautu/Chief Executive Huia
Hanlen.
“Tiakina te Tamaiti helps people understand from a
scientific
perspective how children can be shaped by
experiences — and how we can help
(or get in the way
of) the healthy development of a child. It can be
a
powerful motivator for parents/whānau to make the most
of opportunities to
help their children grow well.
A
key part of the event was to acknowledge the input from the
Kaitohutohu
group who provided advice and guidance. We
are very grateful to Dr Cherryl
Smith, Dr Takirirangi
Smith, Dr Hinemoa Elder, Timoti Harris, Dr
André
McLachlan, for their constructive expertise in
helping us to develop Tiakina
te Tamaiti” says Huia.
Tiakina te Tamaiti is a positive and empowering
workshop designed to focus
the participants on the needs
of tamariki, and specific goals parents/whānau
can set
to support the wellbeing or oranga/hauora of each and
every
tamaiti/child. Tiakina te Tamaiti is accessible to
all, no knowledge of te
reo is needed.
Workshop
creator André Ngāpō (Ngāti Porou ki Hauraki, Ngāti
Tamaterā, Ngāti
Awa) says, “We don’t shy away about
talking through the tough stuff, things
that can get in
the way of a child’s healthy development. But
these
conversations are set-up in a non-judgemental way,
always coming back to the
perspective of the child, their
mana and tapu, and the potential of all
parents/whānau
to provide the kinds of opportunities that will help
their
tamariki grow well” he says.
The uakitanga/launch was attended by distinguished guests:
Hon
Peeni Henare – Minister of Whanau Ora
Speaker - Stacey
Morrison