Whakapapa o te Matatuhi
Ko ō tāua Pou
(Core Pillars of Matatuhi)
Kotahitanga
An enduring organisational structure to provide stability and build future resilience and sustainability for FV/SV kaimahi Maori, with The Matatuhi Collective.
Kaimahi Toiora
Wānanga spaces for healing, reclamation of mātauranga and taonga tuku iho fostering spiritual, cultural, and professional rejuvenation and a range of training provision.
Whakarerekehia
A communications platform and strategy to connect members, facilitate information sharing and ensure that kaimahi are well informed, mobilised, supported and identifying opportunities for positive ‘system’ improvement.
Timeline 2020 - 2025
Tangata whenua roopuu
Kōrero Pakiwaitara
(Our Story)
The establishment of Matatuhi aligns with research indicating that culturally grounded support networks are essential for improving the well-being, job satisfaction, and retention of kaimahi Māori in the family and sexual violence sectors.
Supportive networks help buffer stress and facilitate better performance, while culturally connected initiatives enhance job satisfaction, aligning with kaimahi values and fostering a sense of belonging.
Implementing these strategies can lead to more resilient, satisfied, and effective kaimahi, and help mitigate the threat of high attrition rates within the sector. By fostering a space for connection, learning, and cultural affirmation, Matatuhi stands to make a significant impact on both its members and the broader community it serves.
Achievements to date:
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Successful funding
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Communications and engagement strategy
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Matatuhi Strategic plan
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Kaiarahi work plan
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Over 250 attendees at Wānanga representing 23 FV/SV organisations
Addressing Challenges:
Cultural Validation: Matatuhi aims to validate and support te ao Māori ways of working, addressing the burden of lack of resources and time that organisations can dedicate to intentional cultural support, training & education.
Collaborative Approach: Matatuhi creates a gathering place for kaimahi Māori, aligning with recommendations such as those from the Family Violence Death Review 6th Report, which emphasise the need for collaborative efforts and community expertise in addressing family violence.
Benefits:
Enhanced Support: Provides a platform for shared experiences and collective problem-solving among kaimahi Māori, leading to improved professional support and resilience.
Strengthening Networks: Builds stronger collegial connections and relationships within the sector, contributing to a more cohesive and effective response to family and sexual violence.
Protecting Whakapapa: Supports the overarching goal of protecting whakapapa and contributing to the interruption of intergenerational violence.
Matatuhi is a dedicated space for Family Violence/Sexual Violence (FV/SV) kaimahi Māori that connects across the rohe, hapu, and iwi. Matatuhi is inclusive to all tangata whenua working within the family and sexual violence sectors.
The creation of Matatuhi has come about from a strong desire voiced by FV/SV kaimahi Māori to belong to a space or ‘body’ that embraces and values a unique Māori perspective and gives leadership and voice to those FV/SV kaimahi Māori members. Matatuhi aims to address the gap in meeting the cultural needs of kaimahi Māori in the FV/SV sector.
Matatuhi is the mechanism designed to support and enhance the well-being and professional growth of FV/SV kaimahi Māori by sharing mātauranga Māori knowledge and wisdom. Bringing together kaimahi Māori enables collegial support to grow and strengthen not only the resolve of those who work in one of the most challenging sectors in Aotearoa but also grows collegial connections and strengthens sector relationships across Aotearoa.
With the prime objective of protecting whakapapa & therefore, toiora for whānau Māori, Matatuhi will lead to more effective and culturally grounded responses and solutions. Matatuhi recognises and nurtures the unique needs and strengths of kaimahi Māori in this critical field.
Whakarerekehia – Matatuhi can potentially be a space where kaimahi can explore and create innovative and new ways of addressing how FV/SV is met and addressed when it intersects with the ‘system’[1]. There is everything to be gained from this initiative as FV/SV statistics have stubbornly remained static despite decades of ‘system’ interventions.
[1] Responses from the current NGO and Government FV/SV system.
FV/SV 'System'
