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Iwi needed to help Maori out of homelessness

Iwi needed to help Maori out of homelessness


Iwi leaders have the power to help make a real difference for their people who are homeless, says Dr Shiloh Groot, the tangata whenua co-chair for the New Zealand Coalition to End Homelessness.

"Research tells us that cultivating and supporting cultural identity is an important part of any solution for homeless Maori," says Dr Shiloh who is also a social psychology lecturer at Auckland University.

"Many of our homeless whanau are disconnected from their wider whanau and whenua. And many of them, especially young people and the long term homeless, are scared to go back to their tribal roots.

"We encourage iwi leaders to provide opportunities for these whanau and rangatahi to reconnect or learn about their culture be it through holding wananga or working with groups already supporting homeless people. We know many already are.

"The Government has a responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of our people so this isn't about leaving it all up to iwi but only iwi and hapu can facilitate the learning of Maori cultural identity."

Dr Shiloh said the Government should be resourcing iwi to help end homelessness among Maori, but that the reality was they might be waiting for a long time.

"We need to all come together now to help whanau in urgent need because they're part of our whakapapa too."

Dr Groot, along with a number of other experts working with homeless Maori, including pregnant Maori women, children and the elderly, will be sharing their solutions to overcome homelessness at the Waking up to Homelessness Conference in Wellington tomorrow.

ends

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