A kaitiaki role is described as being a mother, grandmother, and health worker all wrapped up in one. They work alongside registered nurses to provide whanau support and facilitation.
"For me, I came to Tipu Ora because I have a passion for helping our mothers and their babies," Wharangi said.
"In those times [early 90s] we supported the whanau but also negotiated with Work and Income, we liaised with the police, budget advisory, Housing New Zealand, we talked about relationships because those sorts of things are necessary in a household."
The role of kaitiaki has changed slightly in that they work with registered nurses to support the child and mother. Client enrolments are made through referral of a midwife or GP and Wharangi said they did visits according to the needs of the family.
"For us, it's not about timeframes, it's about leaving the mother confident that she was a good mother and she could manage. That's what they [whanau] want and need from us, not someone to come in and tell them they have to fill reams of paperwork out but someone who can listen to them."
Tipu Ora chief executive Raewyn Bourne said the organisation was blessed to have such a "taonga" (treasure) as Wharangi.
"The quality of service she provides is stuff you can't buy. Every day of the week, she absolutely walks and talks the kaupapa (principles) of this organisation which is fundamentally about the health and wellbeing of our Maori mothers and their babies and she never ever loses sight," Raewyn said.
"It doesn't matter if it's a housing issue or a breastfeeding issue and everything in between. She would give this organisation the shirt off her back, she goes the extra mile. Not once in a blue moon but just about everyday of the week and by that I mean she starts early in the morning and she will often finish after five at night because the family can't be home from work until then."
Executive assistant Dianne Hohaia agreed and said Wharangi has always provided support and awhi (care) to her colleagues as well as a wonderful sense of humour to the workplace.
"She has a no-nonsense approach to working hours that suit her clients to ensure the job is done, this has seen her consistently achieve a very high output of work.
"Wharangi is able to move among a wide range of whanau sometimes in very difficult circumstances and at times she goes where 'angels fear to tread'.
"Staff and whanau affectionately refer to her as Nanny Wharangi, Kui, and Cinders, she is loved and well respected," Dianne said.
"She also looks after her personal health including a level of fitness to ensure she maintains good health, and recently walked a 15km round trip to the Whirinaki Falls."
Praise doesn't sit comfortably with Wharangi but she said she loved her Tipu Ora 'whanau' and can't imagine how else she would spend her time.
"If I did retire what am I going to do? I can't do anymore gardens and I'm not washing anymore windows. I find joy in going out and visiting families and if I pass a home and think I haven't seen them for a weeks I'll just pop in and see how they're doing and they really appreciate it," she said.
"I think people have forgotten what it is to be thankful for what they have and not want what they don't need and make use of what God has given them. I thank the good Lord that he's blessed me with good health and while I have it I will continue to work because I love it."
