E tūtaki ana ngā kapua o te rangi, kei runga, kei runga te Mangoroa e kōpae pū ana | The clouds in the sky close over, but above them spreads the milky way

PADA Māori Maternal Mental Health Hui

 

Waiora Whāea – 27 & 28 Oketopa October 2022

 

Tangatarua Marae – Rotorua

 

 

Join us on 27 and 28 Oketopa October 2022 for our second in person Māori Maternal Mental Health Hui, being held at Tangatarua Marae in Rotorua.

We are grateful to be bringing our annual Māori Maternal Mental Health hui back in person, following our first hui held in Orakei Marae in Noema November 2020, and last year our Hui-Ā-Ipurangi/Online Hui Whakamana Te Whare Tangata in 2021.

The focus of our hui will be on restoring traditional Māori practices in the maternal mental health space. This is more than a seminar, this hui will be an immersive and interactive experience held over two days, full of the wisdom and healing of Te Ao and Tikanga Māori.

 

Programme of Events – Day 1

9.00 – 10.00 am Pōwhiri
(9.30 am ShakeOut NZ national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi)

10.00 – 10.30 am MORNING TEA

10.30 – 11.15 am Bianca Taute

11.15 – 12.00 pm Sarndra Mear

12.00 – 12.45 pm LUNCH

12.45 – 2.00 pm Elizabeth Emere Harte – Tupuna Parenting
Group activity followed by group feedback

2.00 – 2.45 pm Lyn Doherty – Ohomairangi Trust early intervention

2.45 – 3.30 pm Dr Naomi Simmonds – E tipu e rea

3.30 – 4.00 pm Shelley Bell & Joanne Teina – Te Whare Pora

4.30 – 5.00 pm We invite you to the PADA AGM in the wharekai

Day 1 Kaikōrero Presenters

Bianca Taute – Manaaki Ora Trust

Ko Maungatautari te maunga
Ko Maungatautari te marae
Ko Waikato te awa
Ko Ngati Koroki ki Kahukura te hapu
Ko Waikato te iwi
Ko Bianca Taute ahau

My kōrero will be about my journey from self to mama and then back to self. It’s been a long and difficult journey but all learning that has blessed me to build my confidence in mamahood to now use that as tools in my kete to hold and now give back to our mama of Rotorua with Kia Mama service. My healing has emerged from helping others and using my lived experience to truly empathize with our wahine toa of Te Arawa. Nga mihi.

Sarndra Mear

He uri tenei o Te Arawa, Tainui me Whakatohea hoki
E noho ana au ki Rotorua
Ko WiKingi raua Hohepa oku whanau
Ko Te Raumawhitu toku kui
Ko Te Ataihaiakirikowhai toku kuia
Ko Sarndra toku ingoa

I have had the pleasure over the last 9 years of being part of some innovative initiatives here in Rotorua regarding reclamation of traditional birthing practices/supports, childbirth education and child development/rites of passage from a Te Ao Maori perspective and matua-pepi/tamait relationships. For the past 12 years I have been working in the space of healing birth trauma/stories through mirimiri and romiromi and most recently (the past 6 years) have been providing conception healing for whanau struggling to conceive to date we have our 13th pepi due in 12 weeks.

I have worked in mainstream perinatal mental health and then in the Iwi space creating space to hold wananga and provide supports from a Te Arawa perspective. This work has taken me to Australia/America and Canada sharing our practices and modalities of healing.

Dr Naomi Simmonds (Raukawa, Ngāti Huri)

Naomi has led and been involved in a range of Kaupapa Māori research projects pertaining to whānau (family) wellbeing, hapū and tamariki ora, land-based learning, and tribal environmental management. Her research looks at the intersections between land, identity, and wellbeing. Her most recent research, a Royal Society Marsden Fast Start funded project, involved researching and re-walking 378km following the journey of her ancestress Māhinaarangi to understand the transformations, knowledges and rituals for wāhine that are embedded in the footprints of her ancestors.

Naomi’s PhD research awarded best Doctoral Thesis 2015 by the New Zealand Geographic Society looked at Māori understandings and experiences of pregnancy and childbirth.

Naomi has continued to be involved in Māori maternity research and in hapū ora implementation through her own Iwi, Raukawa, and as a trustee on Birth Trauma Aotearoa. Naomi is passionate about community driven research that focuses on whānau and whenua ora and is also interested in kaupapa Māori methodologies and analysis. Naomi works as an independent researcher and has a part time role as Kaitakawaenga for the Deep South National Science challenge which draws her into rangahau pertaining to climate change.

She is a mother to two girls and spends most of her spare time at her marae, Pikitū, in the South Waikato.

Elizabeth Emere Harte
Tupuna Parenting

Tūpuna Parenting is a movement to reclaim our traditional Māori parenting ways so we can raise the rangatira of tomorrow.

The kaupapa is grounded in two pou (pillars), beliefs we know our tūpuna held. Our tūpuna were gentle and respectful parents and whānau who believed that:
1) Tuatahi, pēpi are born tapu (sacred)
2) Tuarua, pepi are born with mana

Because of this, our tūpuna were gentle and respectful with their whānau – they treated their pēpi and tamariki with a deep respect. Our mātauranga and academic evidence shows this, and we want to share this with all whānau across the motu. We have a digital strategy for spreading the kaupapa directly to whānau, but we knew we needed partnerships to scale this movement. We needed more leaders in the movement. So, we’re teaching Māori kaimahi about this kaupapa in detail, building them up as experts in tūpuna parenting so they can then share it with the whānau they support. This learning journey is called Ngākau Aroha Parenting.

Whakapapa is key to the kaupapa, but also an important part of the organisation. I am inspired by the very important intergenerational mahi of my Mum, Helen Mountain Harte (1942-2019). was an advocate for Māori tamariki across te motu, particularly in the era after Nia Glassie died and the anti-smacking law reform referendum took place (both 2007). In 2018, Mum and I started Pēpi Penapena (Cherish Babies) to share tūpuna parenting ways. After Mum passed away, Hirini joined to tautoko the kaupapa and provide his matauranga and experience as a historian, Anglican church leader and social justice campaigner. Building a movement for the kaupapa was seen as critical for spreading this kaupapa to all whānau, so the Tūpuna Parenting movement has been launched.

My career before Tūpuna Parenting and Pēpi Penapena was as a Product Manager. I would either lead or am involved in all stages of the roadmap development – from ideation, stakeholder discussions and customer research, to feature analysis and prioritisation, through to detailed requirements definition, design reviews and feedback loops. I am confident presenting the story, benefits and value of a product, feature or a release to a range of audiences, including at director level. Reviewing the analytics of my features and releases is a key part of the job, ensuring they are performing to the defined KPIs share it with the whānau they support. This learning journey is called Ngākau Aroha Parenting. Whakapapa is key to the Kaupapa.

Lyn Doherty
Ngati Porou/Ngapuhi

Psychologist/Parenting Facilitator

Creator of Kaupapa Māori parenting programs that have been restoring Mana to many whānau over decades in South Auckland

Programme of Events – Day 2

9.00 – 9.10 am Welcome back

9.10 – 10.30 am Shelley Bell & Joanne Teina – Te Whare Pora – Making muka ties and uku pito

10.30 – 11.00 am MORNING TEA

11.00 – 11.45 am Alayne Mikaere-Hall

11.45 – 12.45 pm Dr Moana Eruera

12.45 – 1.45 pm LUNCH

1.45 – 2.15 pm Jasmine Davis

2.15 – 3.15 pm Te Rauhiringa Brown

3.15 – 3.30 pm Poroporoaki

Day 2 Kaikōrero Presenters

Alayne Mikaere-Hall
Ngāti Whātua, Te Rarawa, Tainui

Dr Alayne Mikahere-Hall is of Ngāti Whatua, Te Rarawa, Tainui and Pākehā decent. She holds leadership roles within the AUT Health Faculty to include the Associate Head of School Māori Advancement AUT School of Public Health and Interdisciplinary Studies. Alayne is also a senior lecturer and researcher working within Taupua Waiora Māori Health Research Centre. Alayne holds responsibilities for Te Ara Hauora Māori, the undergraduate and postgraduate Māori Health studies pathway with lecturing and oversight responsibilities for the Violence and Trauma postgraduate studies.

Alayne’s research activities focus on violence and complex trauma, children and whānau with an interest in developing evidence based Māori and Indigenous therapeutic interventions. Alayne is the current Co-Chair of the Health Quality and Safety Commission Child Youth Mortality Review Committee. She is a past recipient of a Health Research Council of New Zealand Māori Doctoral Scholarship, Ministry of Health Hauora Māori Scholarships, Rosemary Seymour Research & Archives Award, Women’s Studies Association (NZ) and Ngāti Whatua, Waikato-Tainui education scholarships. Alayne is a Registered Psychotherapist, a member of the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapist (NZAP) and a founding member of Waka Oranga – National Collective of Māori Psychotherapy Practitioners (NCMPP).
E Tū Wāhine, E Tū Whānau: Wāhine Māori keeping safe in unsafe relationships

Te Rauhiringa Brown

Te Rauhiringa Brown is the weather girl who made some storms by presenting the weather bi lingually. She is a reporter on both 7 Sharp and Te Karere.
Te Rauhiringa has her own personal journey with Perinatal mood disorders and has been actively bringing attention to this space for over a decade. Fist with the video she made as a young Mama for Like mind like mine and more recently for Rei news.

She is a mother to two boys and Aunty to many nieces and nephews and adored partner of Mauri.

With her cheery demeanour and passion for te reo Māori, TVNZ’s newest weather presenter, Te Rauhiringa Brown, is a ray of sunshine to those who tune in to watch.
But recently she experienced a cloudy moment in her career after a raft of negative comments surfaced online, complaining about the fluent Māori speaker using both English and te reo while presenting the weather. One complainant said it was a “disgrace”.

“It baffles me that people say these things and have views about Māori, a culture that they’ve probably never spent any time with and a language they haven’t put any energy into learning about,” Te Rauhiringa tells the Weekly.

“Te reo Māori is more than just a language. It’s a world view; it’s the way that we treat people.”

The 30-year-old grew up attending kōhanga reo and kura kaupapa Māori-language immersion schools.

She started her TV career at 19 as a presenter on te reo Māori children’s show Pūkana and has been a regular presenter on various kids’ shows. She has since become an actress and writer of theatre shows in both English and Māori.

Jasmine Davis

Ko Hikurangi me Sili Sili te Maunga
Ko Waiapu te Awa
Ko Ngati Porou me Siufaga, Savaii Samoa te Iwi
Ko Jasmine Davis toku Ingoa

Talofa lava, I am a New Zealand born and raised Samoan, Māori and European Teine/Wahine who has grown up in the vibrant and cultural South Auckland. This upbringing of rich culture sparked my passion to work alongside, understand and support our Pasifika brothers and sisters navigate the many obstacles they face adjusting to life in New Zealand. I am a mother to one with another blessing on the way.

I completed a diploma in Youth Work and more recently, a Bachelor’s degree in Youth Development. I enjoy empowering young people with the tools, resources and support around exploring and acknowledging their roots, identity and potential. I work for a Pacific organization, Fonua Ola, as their Youth Worker, working alongside social work team, counsellors and the Hala Ora Wellbeing team who work specifically around mental health. We are intertwined and use a wraparound approach.

Being part of PADA provides a great platform to share, educate and be able to allow genuine exposure and real experiences to be shared around perinatal and postpartum depression, realizing that myself and many of my own family, friends and clients had lived through it without knowing what it was or how to get help.

Shelley Bell

Shelley Bell is a Kai Raranga expert who works and resides in Tāmaki Makaurau. Shelley is of Ngai Tai and Ngapuhi decent. Shelley has managed to develop and incorporate entrepreneurial acumen and her artistry into a successful and sustainable business model. Whiri have become her signature weaving product that she loves to weave. Her contribution to SUDI Prevention has been solid for over 15 years suppling Wahakura to DHBs and other groups. She has designed a successful Wahakura Wananga which produce the weaver within the whanau to ensure that whanau support a safe sleep for their pepi.

Dr Moana Eruera
Consultant, Taupua Waiora Snr Research Fellow

Dr Moana Eruera M. Phil (Social Work), Registered Social Worker NZ, MANZASW, Tangata Whenua Social Worker Association (TWASWA)

Nō Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Rangiwewehi ōna Iwi. Through her Mum she also has Scottish and Irish heritage. Eldest of 3 sisters, Mother of 2 sons (and other whānau members she cares for) she lives within Te Whare Tapu ō Ngāpuhi.

Moana has more than 30 years of experience in social and community work including family violence prevention, child safety and protection, Youth Justice, Ngāpuhi based violence prevention research and academic achievements. Her working career and vision has been spent committed to strengthening whānau (family), child safety and wellbeing, reclaiming and application of indigenous frameworks and practices in social and community work, youth intimate partner violence prevention approaches and the development of Māori and indigenous people.

Moana is currently consulting to Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services and Senior Research Fellow at Taupua Waiora Centre for Māori research, Auckland University of Technology.

PhD (Indigenous Studies), Registered Social Worker NZ, ANZASW member, TWASW founding member

Joanne Teina

Ko Taupiri me Pirongia aku Maunga
Ko Waipa me Waikato aku Awa
Ko Tainui taku waka
Ko Ngati Apakura me Ngati Maniapoto, me Ngati Raukawa, me Ngati Paoa aku Iwi
Ko Ngati Hinetu taku Hapuu
Ko Kahotea taku Marae
Ko Sagan Rama me Irene Rama aku matua
Ko John Teina aku rangatira hoa
Ko Joanne Teina ahau

Joanne is a retired Homebirth midwife who established the Wananga Hapuutanga in Tamaki Makaurau 30 years ago and still facilitates the wananga today, and recently launched a new wananga Hapuu Ora for whaanau with lived experience of mental health and addictions. She is also the Kaumaatua and Kaiako Maaori for PADA and created and facilitates Hine Tu Hine Ora an informed trauma workshop exploring Peri natal mood disorders for whaanau Maaori.

She has lived experiences of perinatal mood disorders as the mother to 7 biological children and four borrowed, and she is Nanny Jo to 15 mokopuna and Great grandmother of one.

Joanne will be sharing her journey of restoring Traditional birthing wisdom to whaanau through wananga and her presentation will be in partnership with Wahakura Expert and Kairaranga Shelley Bell, where they will provide a practical demonstration of making Muka whitiao and an opportunity to explore the realm of Hine Te Iwaiwa and Te Whare Pora.

Venue | Tangatarua Marae

 

The very beautiful Tangatarua Marae is located on Mokoia Campus, in the Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in Rotorua, part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. Tangatarua Marae, whose name translates to “two peoples, together in one place in one land” was officially opened on October 5, 1996 and is named after a Tūhourangi ancestor, Tangatarua, who lived on the land where Mokoia Campus is situated today.

Māori maternal mental health hui

Feedback from our last Hui-Ā-Ipurangi 2021

 

Feedback received from Whakamana Te Whare Tangata Hui-Ā-Ipurangi in Noema November 2021:

“Thank you so much for an amazing hui. This was my first and I feel like I have learnt so much today. There is such incredible mahi happening out in the community. Nga mihi x “

“This was such a special day, thank you for sharing your knowledge and kaupapa with us ”

“Nga mihinui ki a koutou mo tenei raa huitopa. Miharo o koutou mahi”

“Nga mihi nui to everyone for all the awesome inspiring presentations”

“As a pakeha, what I gained was invaluable appreciation for what it means to have to fight for your voice to be heard and your ways to be respected. Knowledge weighs a tonne but it does help build bridges”

“How important it is to return to have a traditional Māori health system that I believe will not only start to help heal the Māori community but is also a healing and environmentally sustainable health system for everyone.”

“As pākehā kaimahi we need to focus on cultural safety in all that we do. I have been doing my post graduate in this area and want to know from whānau what it is that works well for them.”

“It increased my knowledge of traditional māori knowledge and after emailing Joanne Rama set me on a path to study more about it for myself and for others.”

Thanks to our funders

With thanks to Te Hiringa Hauora | Health Promotion Agency | Gattung Foundation and COGS Community Organisation Grants Scheme for funding to enable this hui to go ahead, and to Bay Trust for subsiding the cost of registrations.