Reuben Hokimoana and Annette Te Mare Hahipene - opening Corrections’
staff members’ eyes to tikanga processes.
In Maori mythology, Ranginui and Papatuanuku had amongst their numerous children a mischievous and inquisitive son named Uepoto. Uepoto discovered the light between his parents before they were separated; the path he traveled to the light is Te Ara Namunamu ki Taiao - the Pathway to Enlightenment. It was this pathway and philosophy that Probation and Offender Services staff from Taupo were introduced to during a pilot Tikanga Maori Programme for staff late last year.
Taupo Service Manager Pere Paul says staff are very positive about the programme’s continued benefit to their everyday work.
"It’s great to see Maori and non-Maori staff putting their hands up to be the liaison person for tikanga programmes for offenders. Staff now attend powhiri and poroporoaki with better knowledge and without fear of cultural issues," says Pere.
The programme was facilitated by Reuben Hokimoana and Annette Te Mare Hahipene, who also deliver Tikanga Maori Programmes to offenders in the Taupo community. Reuben is a Maori Service Practitioner for Te Arawa Bicultural Therapy Model at Tongariro/Rangipo Prison. He is originally from Te Teko and his iwi links are to Ngati Awa, Ngaitai and Te Whanau a Apanui. Annette is from Turangi and her iwi are Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Ruapani and Ngai Tuhoe.
Probation Officer Peter Smith, who attended the programme, says the understanding he has been given of the local Maori world view is invaluable to him.
"I know more about the different hapu in the area and how they relate to each other. I’m also more comfortable hearing and using te reo. I find when I greet offenders using te reo it immediately breaks the ice and helps us engage with each other better."
The idea of a tikanga programme for staff came about when the previous Service Manager, Alex Holmes, saw the power of Reuben and Annette’s tikanga programme for offenders.
"A lot of the offenders the Probation Service manages are Maori, so it made sense Te Ara Namunamu ki Taiao - Pathway to Enlightenment to develop the cultural responsiveness of staff. It gave us an opportunity to take some of the ‘mystery’ out of our culture," says Reuben.
Staff learned about the marae and its tikanga, Maori values, basic te reo and the history of the local Tuwharetoa region.
"We based the programme at the marae because it is our turangawaewae, where we can practice our culture and experience its values. It is our place of learning from birth to death," says Annette.
"To understand Maoritanga and the Maori world view, one needs to understand the Maori value system. This gave staff an insight into why Maori do what we do - especially where people are concerned," she says.
Reuben explains that if Maori do not know their whakapapa, they have little cultural identity. Staff learned that whakapapa begins with maunga and moana, and links these to one’s iwi, hapu, marae and whanau.
"For most offenders, learning their whakapapa is the first step to gaining a sense of identity. When we explained this to the Probation Service staff we could see the mental switch in their heads about how they could now start interacting with their clients," says Reuben.
Staff also learned the pakiwaitara, or legends of the area, and that the messages in these stories are still relevant today. Annette says the pakiwaitara were formed from the landscape and environment and have given depth to the personalities and characteristics of the tangata whenua of Tuwharetoa.
"We also explained the place names around the lake, so that when staff travel from Taupo to the prisons at Tongariro and Rangipo, for instance, the place names have relevance," she says.
Pere says they plan to run similar programmes for staff in the future.
"Reuben and Annette opened staff members’ eyes to the different styles of learning and rehabilitation that are possible through tikanga processes," he says.
"Staff are now better equipped to be responsive to Maori needs and values. It’s been encouraging to see staff wanting to attend Maori Network hui and contributing to area, regional and national initiatives."
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