Merepeka Raukawa-Tait: Dreaming big dreams

Interesting that some people think only certain individuals have a right to dream and plan their future.

When I've been explaining to those interested that Whanau Ora is about changing and transforming lives; about getting people to realise that where they are now doesn't mean that's where they have to stay, my explanation is often greeted with disbelief. I tell them that Whanau Ora is about dreaming big dreams and aspiring for a better future for the individual and family.

Too often I get "what would they know about dreaming big dreams" thrown at me, "these families are barely surviving from one week to the next". And they're right of course. The families Whanau Ora is attempting to assist are heavy duty. You name it they've had it, got it or on their way to getting it. All the stuff we, who have dreams and the luxury of planning our futures, don't have to contend with.

But make no mistake Whanau Ora families have their dreams too. They may have always thought theirs would never see the light of day, but Whanau Ora was set up to change all that. And the Minister of Whanau Ora, Hon Tariana Turia has made it clear to those charged with successfully implementing Whanau Ora "failure is not an option".

She knew it would not be easy. We are talking about families, the majority of whom have members adding to all the unfavourable statistics. These families cost our country millions of dollars each year and still the statistics remain the same. The government needs to do something different and the taxpayer needs a break. So innovation is called for. Doing the same thing year in, year out and expecting a different result is madness.

There is no shortage of families that fit the Whanau Ora criteria. They have high needs in multiple areas and social service providers can identify them from their current list of clients and service users. The families are encouraged to look at Whanau Ora as a way of moving forward. Thankfully Whanau Ora takes a "whole of family" approach to supporting and assisting families. Families are sick and tired of having to troupe around from one provider and agency to another. They tell their story only once and know the problems and issues the family is facing will be looked at in its entirety. The solutions found will take into account factors impacting on all areas of their lives. Addressing one area while another is left unattended doesn't make for lasting progress in any area. This should dispense with the usual 10 agency cars up the drive on any given day, with none of them talking to each other and sharing vital information. The mind boggles when you think how long this ridiculous system of "silo" support for those with social problems has operated.

Whanau Ora families are encouraged to look ahead. They all work together to try and picture their desirable future. What do they want for their family? What would that look like? When would they like to see all this happening? They know their current situation all too well. It's the future they need to focus on and Whanau Ora aims to support and keep them looking and moving forward. And you're wrong if you think they don't know what a positive future looks like.

They tell me they want jobs so they can provide for their own families. They want to be able to save money for the things they want to buy including their own home. They want to be able to afford a holiday every once and a while and a car that doesn't always need repairs, and to be debt free. They want their children to do well at school and go to university if they want to. They want to travel to visit relations in Australia. They want to kick drugs, alcohol and violence out of their homes.

They want some peace in their lives. Their dreams are solid, real and damn hard core. Often the families get overwhelmed and suggest it's just too hard, they're too far gone! This is where committed Whanau Ora service providers come into their own. They know that every family counts. Every family is entitled to the right support at the right time by the right provider. The families capture their dreams in a plan. The plan may have some components that require funding but most often what they need is already on offer in the community. It's knowing about, and accessing, these support services that will move families towards their own self-determined future and achieve what Whanau Ora was set up for.

Successive governments created a social welfare system that produced long term benefit dependants. Some of their economic policies have firmly planted many families on the sideline as well. Whanau Ora knows this and wants to move from crisis intervention to early, whole of family support and planning. What we currently have took years to successfully accomplish now Whanau Ora needs time to bed down successfully.

We either take the time to do it properly, and this means taking the families most in need with us and put their needs at the centre, or we can continue to throw taxpayers money down a big black hole. I say let's get on and make Whanau Ora a success. Failure is not an option!

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait is the Deputy Chair of the Te Arawa Whanau Ora Regional Leadership Group.