Source: Rata Foundation
A kaupapa grounded in the parenting traditions of tūpuna Māori is equipping kaimahi with the skills and resources to better support whānau through mātauranga Māori.
Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi, developed by Tūpuna Parenting, is one of the only kaupapa Māori professional development programmes about parenting offered in Aotearoa. The most recent cohort completed the 15-week course, which included a two-day noho marae at Te Āwhina Marae in Motueka.
Founder Elizabeth (Liz) Harte (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou) says Tūpuna Parenting is focused on sharing this mātauranga through wānanga and professional development. “Tūpuna Parenting is a kaupapa about sharing the gentle and respectful parenting ways of tūpuna Māori with whānau across the motu. Our vision is to empower whānau with mātauranga to raise pepi and tamariki who are happy, loved and strong, and we do that in many ways.”
The organisation was started by Liz and her mother Helen Mountain Harte, a lead researcher in this field, in 2018. Following Helen's passing in 2019, Liz carried the work forward, shifting to online professional development during the COVID-19 pandemic before piloting the Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi programme in 2021.
Liz says the programme is designed to support both kaimahi and whānau directly. “The first half of our Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi professional development journey is about sharing the mātauranga with kaimahi through whakataukī, pūrākau, oral histories and early explorer accounts, so they can bring that on board and relate it to their own whānau and whakapapa. The second half of the journey is much more practical and outward-facing, focusing on how they weave this into their mahi every day, share it with the whānau they support and create meaningful change for those whānau who are interested.”
A Social Return on Investment (SROI) report for Ngākau Aroha for Kaimahi, completed in August 2025, shows that for every $1 invested, $11.20 of value is created for kaimahi, their own whānau, and the whānau they support. Liz says this independent evaluation has been an important part of their journey.
“Through that evaluation, we know that the kaimahi who come on this journey connect strongly with the kaupapa. They get a lot out of it in terms of cultural competency, confidence in their mahi and community engagement. As many of them are parents as well, they’ve seen increased confidence in their parenting and better mental wellbeing. There’s also a restoration of mana and better decision-making, and for their tamariki, their wellbeing and behaviour are seen to improve as well.”
Kandace Smiler (Ngāti Paoa, Te Ati Awa, Te Aitanga a Mahaki), a kaimahi who is participating in the programme, says the kaupapa offers whānau a complementary framework alongside other support services. “Whānau Māori appreciate a different take – they might already be engaged with counsellors and psychologists in a Western framework, but when we add the māoritanga layer, they are able to reconnect and feel more settled in their wairua. There’s a lot of depth in the mātauranga, and I found it helpful to have a very clear framework. I’m now able to utilise the resources that sit within Tūpuna Parenting.”
Tania Matautia (Te Arawa, Ngāti Uenukukopako, Te Roro o te Rangi), a graduate of the programme who is now a leader in the kaupapa, says it’s particularly relevant for supporting young parents. “Tūpuna Parenting is really based on acknowledging and supporting the tapu and mana of children. It can be quite difficult for young parents, but they are able to resonate with the kōrero that we share. Using tikanga Māori concepts helps them to connect and learn in ways that support them in their parenting.”
Rātā Foundation has supported Tūpuna Parenting since 2022, initially funding Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough-based kaimahi to take part in the programme. This support has been extended to include rollout of an eight-week whānau wānanga programme, bringing the kaupapa directly to whānau.
View the video here: Rātā Foundation Faces of Funding: Tūpuna Parenting
– ends – About Rātā Foundation The South Island's most significant community investment fund, Rātā manages a pūtea (fund) of around $730 million [1] , enabling an investment of around $25 million per annum into its funding regions of Canterbury, Nelson/Tasman, Marlborough and the Chatham Islands. Since its inception in 1988, Rātā has invested over $630 million through community investment programmes to empower people to thrive. [1] Our investment balance reflects a specific point in time and may fluctuate due to market conditions and other external factors beyond our control.