Evaluation report to the Ministry of Education

This report discusses an evaluation of the parenting programme Whānau Toko I Te Ora, a national programme for Māori whānau delivered under the auspices of Te Rōpū Wāhine Māori Toko I Te Ora (the Māori Women's Welfare League). The central aim of the programme is to promote and improve positive parenting skills, provide learning and development opportunities for children, and assist with confident family functioning, relationships and mental outlook. The programme has been designed for whanau with medium to high needs and the services provided are child-centred and whanau-focused. A holistic approach is adopted that integrates Māori tikanga into all aspects of child development, with an emphasis on the first five years. Sixteen case studies formed the basis of the evaluation. Each case study reports on the following areas within the family: health environment, housing and transport, finance and budgeting, education and training, child education and development, parenting skills and confidence, justice, and employment. The outcomes in all these areas are discussed. In terms of child education and development, the report shows that parental and sibling interactions generally became more positive during the evaluation period. Improvements were noted in whānau discord, emotional stress, yelling and other inappropriate methods of behaviour control and discipline. Parenting skills and confidence increased. Limitations of the study are discussed.

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