NZ provides a unique cultural training space for Incredible Years

• by IY Mentor Tania Anstiss and Mentor-in-Training Lisa Herewini

Incredible Years in Aotearoa/New Zealand continues to grow and develop in exciting new directions! The importance of Māori as tangata whenua (indigenous people of our land) underpins the partnership between the team at Werry Workforce Whāraurau and our Māori and Pacific communities. This collaboration informs the ways we continue to support innovative delivery of the Incredible Years Programme in a culturally responsive way.

Werry’s Incredible Years mentor-in-training and Māori Advisor, Lisa Herewini, provides an important leadership role in this work. A range of opportunities are offered to the workforce to ensure they are supported to meet the unique needs of whānau (families) in New Zealand.

Trainees stand outside the wharenui (traditional Māori meeting house)

In partnership with local iwi (tribe), Werry Workforce Whāraurau recently offered an IY Basic training workshop on a marae (a traditional and sacred community space).

Working together to provide training in such environments helps develop a shared understanding of how best to meet the needs of Māori whānau (families). It also enables integration of cultural understandings, metaphors and practices into our Incredible Years mahi (work).

The intention of such events is to provide a full cultural experience alongside the standard training process and content. Participants have indicated that this approach is valuable to them and all trainees at this recent event indicated the experience was a good ‘cultural fit’ for Māori Incredible Years Leaders. The expertise of Incredible Years mentors like Lisa, who can hold perspectives from two cultural world views adds significant value to this unique training experience.

Naku te rourou nau te rourou

Ka ora ai te iwi

With your basket and my basket

The people will thrive