MANA TAIOHI

Whanaungatanga

How youth development can enhance mana

With young people we prioritise whanaungatanga, taking time to build and sustain quality relationships

Our thanks to Rawiri Tapiata, Norm Mann, JJ Rika & Arohanui West!

Whanaungatanga is about relationship, kinship and a sense of family connection. It relates to all relationships in a young person’s life, including those in the digital space. When we prioritise whanaungatanga we invest in high trust relationships that are reciprocal, genuine, authentic intentional and mana enhancing. Young people are supported, with a strong foundation of belonging.

E kore te tōtara e tū noa i te pārae ēngari me tū i roto i te wao-nui-a-Tane

The tōtara does not stand alone in the field, but stands within the great forest of Tane

A chief with no supporters and followers stands alone, but one who works with the people will be a chief of substance.

(Mead & Grove, 2004)