The development of this way for Christian Māori Social Work arose from a combination of factors. These included the need for a social work practice that reflected Māori values and beliefs, Christian Te Ao Māori world view, and provided a practical way to further develop the bi-cultural journey Open Home Foundation has embarked on.

Te Aho Takitoru was developed by a project team of Māori social work practitioners in Te Whare Kaupapa Āwhina to enable our organisation to offer culturally appropriate support to whānau and their tamariki. The development and practice of Te Aho Takitoru is looked after through Te Roopu Māori. All OHF social workers have initial induction in Te Aho Takitoru.

Te Ahurea Pūtahi

Cultural advice, support and assessment is available to our social work teams and whānau to help ensure whānau receive support from people who understand their cultural needs.

Te Aho Takitoru

Te Aho Takitoru is a way of working together using Māori cultural processes and values to assist whānau to make the changes they believe are necessary to ensure the safety and mauri ora for their tamariki and mokopuna.

Te Whare Kaupapa Āwhina social workers are guided by Te Aho Takitoru when working with whānau and tamariki Māori who are in TWKA/OHF care. When they first meet with whānau, the social workers will offer them the opportunity to work with them using this framework.

Te Aho Takitoru

Te Aho Takitoru supports whānau on a Journey of Hope to discover their rangatiratanga ability to make the changes they believe necessary to reach their goals. This journey is taken in three stages:- 

 Pōwhiri/Pōhiri

Time is given for whakawhanaungatanga to get to know one another and to decide how best to work together to achieve the whānau goal.

Hui

Together with the social worker, whānau look at what's worrying them using some helpful tools such as the Kōpū and whānau hui. The strengths of the whānau and the views of the tamariki also play an important part in looking at what needs to change and how.

Waka

The social worker will support whānau as they make their planned journey of change to reach their goal.

The Kōpū is a framework that helps whānau to shape their perspective about the problem and its solution. Whānau use the Kōpū to map their information in a way that helps them see where and how they need to make the changes necessary on order to reach their goals. Information is written into any of the areas that whānau feel is right for them. Each area focuses on an important whānau value and whānau write in what is working well and what they are worried about.

Tapu                                                  Whakapapa                                        Tūmanako

Safety, protection                    Connectedness, belonging                        Hope, future goals

Houhanga Rongo                             Mauri Īhu                                              Aroha

Reconciliation, peace                                                                                  Capacity to care

Kotahitanga                                       Mana                                              Whakapono

Unity, working together                Respect, behaviour                             Trust, openness

The Mauri Īhu area is left until last when whānau will use their map to decide what needs to change to reach their goal.

Te Aho Takitoru enables social workers to work with whānau Māori in a culturally appropriate manner using intervention strategies generated from Māori knowledge and world-view.