Min Vette, the general manager of Ngati Porou Oranga, said it was a fabulous two days because they were able to get all their services together and invite different organisations from across Tairawhiti to meet kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) to learn what each agency is about.
“We are displaying and explaining what we do to whanau for them to understand everything we do. It's a chance for them to gather information and ask questions about things if they aren't sure. It's not often we are able to get everyone together in this context as often people are out working in the community,” Min said.
The list of services under Ngati Porou Oranga is long, and includes Tuhono Whanau (Family Start), Family Wellbeing, Housing Support Services, Tairawhiti School Attendance Service, School-based Social Workers, Young Parent Payment, Youth Payment, Not in Education, Employment, Training or Work Programme, Fresh Start, Restorative Justice, Te Ihu Waka, Te Pae Oranga Panels, Iwi Family Group Conferencing, Out of Gate Reintegration Service, Community Injury Prevention Programe, Community Nutrition Kaumatua service, Hapu Social Service Holiday Programme, Hapu Social Services Family Centres Violence programme, Whangaia Nga Pa Karekeke, and the Paikea Gym. Kaimahi from these services were there to explain and share what they do. Some of the services have kaimahi who have worked in the sector for over 20 years.
“I am really excited about the future of where we can be going because if we can engage properly with whanau and the services we provide, anything can be achieved,” Min said.
The new general manager of Ngati Porou Oranga brings a wealth of experience to the job, from starting in the shearing shed at 15, to working for government agencies. She knows what's what.
Min's journey began when she left school and started working in her uncle's shearing shed.
“I love to reflect on that because I had nothing. I wasn't naughty, I just didn't like what was happening. So school, it wasn't the place for me,” Min said.
“I had no qualifications, but my uncle had a shearing contract and asked my mum ‘what's that girl going to do?' He told me to come work in the shearing sheds. I was so excited — it was the best thing that could happen to me.”
She had no idea how to do the mahi, but her auntie and uncle taught her.
“I knew how to rousie and sweep the floors. I learnt to do it well — there wasn't a speck of wool on the floor. That job taught me how to sweat, how to work, how to work as a team, and help others. Everyone supported each other. I learnt work ethics from the shearing shed.”
Later she had children, and things changed. She enrolled her tamariki into kohanga reo, only the second year after the movement began. They went to Whangara Marae where a kohanga reo was started.
“I went there and started to learn te reo Maori and I loved it.”
She ended up getting her Kohanga Reo Tohu (qualification) which she is most proud of — “it's at the front of my CV”.
Her children attended kura kaupapa Maori — full immersion schools. After they finished school Min then went to Whatukura (polytechnic) to learn te reo Maori, then Moeteatea. She carried her learning through to Waikato Unversity where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree — “all from the shearing sheds”, she said.
When she returned to Gisborne she got a job at Te Runanga o Turanganui-a-Kiwa where she ran parenting programmes, and travelled across the region with that mahi.
She went on to work at Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou for seven years, before moving to Wellington where she worked for the Ministry of Education.
She became a senior adviser in the Ministry of Social Development, and then worked for Oranga Tamariki where she had oversight of the national intervention services.
Along with this high-level government department work, she managed to fit in study for her Masters degree.
Then Covid-19 hit.
Min and her whanau always had a home in Whangara, and they decided to come back when the first Covid-19 lockdown happened, back in 2020.
She worked from home, and then helped out as an essential worker helping the hapu Ngati Kanohi with the Covid response.
When word came that she and her colleagues in Wellington could go back to the office, she knew she wanted to stay home.
She had a contract with Oranga Tamariki but when that mahi came to an end, she was wondering what to do next. Then this role popped up.
“I am so lucky to work with Ngati Porou and be back home,” she said.
The whole point of going to Wellington was to learn how things work at the national level, and bring that information home to help lift those that need it.
“I have an opportunity now to pass that knowledge on. I have six managers that I am constantly passing things on to. They are awesome and passionate about what they do.
“I feel excited for our people and the staff as well. We all work so hard and we have well- qualified staff who are passionate about what they do.
“We still have lots to learn — there is always more to learn.
“We are taking our time and doing it carefully.
“It's so important to make sure we get it right because the impact on our people is at the heart of it all.”
Min has a message for Tairawhiti — “Kia ora”.
“This is a combination of everything else everyone is doing. We need each other. We are strengthening ourselves but it's not separate to our relationship with everyone else.
“It's whanaungatanga and whakapapa. We have to remain with each other and lean into each other when we need to. There are subject experts out there who we need to work with.”
■ Whanau Oranga staff are out and about in our communities, and have bases in Ruatoria and Kaiti. To find out more about any of the services contact one of the offices:
Ruatoria - 0800 833 502
Te Tini o Porou, Gisborne - 0800 676768
