Hei Whakapiki Mauri was invited as part of a select group of kaupapa to present to the International Initiative for Disability Leadership (IIDL) during their exchange visit to Ōtautahi on 24 and 25 June, which was hosted by Enabling Good Lives Christchurch. Kaiwhakahaere Ruth Jones and Navigators Waikura McGregor and Billy Willis shared stories of the power of Whānau Ora and taking a kaupapa Māori approach to supporting whānau with disabilities.
Focusing on being Māori first is central to how Hei Whakapiki Mauri works with whānau and Ruth explained that their approach is about recognising the whakapapa each person has, raising their mauri and making connections through whanaungatanga and mātauranga Māori. “Everyone has mauri – a unique lifeforce within – and the same right to be in and feel connected to their place in this world,” she said.
Artworks created by whānau to represent their stories and connections were displayed by Navigators Waikura and Billy at the hui. These works included the Hei Whakapiki Mauri tangi quilt, developed with artist Ron Te Kawa at Stitch-o-Mat New Brighton for tāngata whaikaha to use as a korowai, where they don’t have access to one for tangi. Whakapapa quilts that visually represent people’s stories were also showcased as an example of how Hei Whakapiki Mauri connects whānau to their sense of Māori identity in unique ways.
Helen Leahy, Pouarahi of Te Pūtahitanga also joined the hui in support of Hei Whakapiki Mauri and spoke of the way that using a Te Ao Māori worldview when working with whānau with disabilities can help to “awaken the possibilities of brilliance that we all have.” Te Pūtahitanga has invested in Hei Whakapiki Mauri initiatives since 2016, backing whānau to create their own change.
At the hui, Ruth presented several of the kaupapa that have been enabled through Te Pūtahitanga’s support, including a Māra Kai gardening project that whānau aim to progress into a recipe book; a storytelling project for tāngata whaikaha who are sharing their kōrero through books, dance and more; and personalised Covid-19 rāhui support for whānau that enabled Hei Whakapiki Mauri to maintain online connections and provide practical tautoko.
After the presentation, IIDL Liaison Lorna Sullivan commented that: “Hei Whakapiki Mauri can help us think in different ways about the lives of disabled people” and that: “The solutions lie with disabled people and their whānau.”
Other initiatives visited during the IIDL Exchange included Ara Skills for Living & Working, CCS Disability Action, Inclusive Performance Academy, Enabling Good Lives Family/Whānau Core Group, Recreate NZ, Project SEARCH and The Southern Centre Multi-Sensory Experience.
In 2022, the annual International Initiative for Disability Leadership Conference will be in Ōtautahi at the new Christchurch Convention Centre – Te Pae.