Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu going from strength to strength
New research commissioned by Pasefika Proud paid recognition to the Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu framework as identifying a range of protective factors including healthy family relationships, positive cultural identity, sense of self belief, equity between genders, communication skills, knowledge of family violence and the law, participation in Pasifika cultural and faith communities, education, employment, and good access to services.
It is heartening to see changes of behaviours take a positive hold within our communities.
Nga Vaka Professional Development
The Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu cultural training has been developed to target qualified Pacific practitioners such as social workers, counsellors (etc), and non-Pacific practitioners, either working specifically with Pacific families in the area of family violence or who are working with Pacific families and deal with family violence incidences, or support as part of their wider work.
In 2022 Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu targeted qualified Pacific (and, indeed, non-Pacific) practitioners in fields such as social work, counselling, and family violence.
2023 saw the introduction of a programme to include Professional Development Training helping organisations’ cultural responsiveness to better serve the needs of Pacific families, and Community Training focusing on how communities can take action using their own cultural ways or framework to address issues such as family violence.
Each ethnic-specific programme had the aim of giving participants an understanding of the context of Pacific families to help be a culturally responsive practitioner, enabling practical steps to help families and to understand and assess situations.
Some of the highlights of 2023 include.
FEBRUARY: The Samoan EFKS Champions of Change, based in Manurewa, got together to grow their Champions in the O Le Tofa Mamao. It is a church movement working to address family harm in their own unique way
MARCH: Nga Vaka spent time with Kiribati and Tuvalu Youth Champions of Change to show that young people can lead change in Pacific communities. We all know that good things take time, but Indigenous solutions are, we believe, a community-owned journey.
Caption: Kiribati Youth COC
Caption: Tuvalu Youth COC
In the same month, the Turanga Māori training was delivered in Tokoroa with Reverend Teremoana and Kitiona Tauira. We were grateful for the help of the team from South Waikato Pacific Island services for hosting us and the Cook Island locals who actively participated in the programme.
APRIL: This was a busy month for Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu, working alongside our Niue Intergenerational Champions of Change on the creation of their new solution which was earmarked for launch in June.
In Auckland we also met with our Fijian Men’s Champions of Change – proud fathers, brothers, and sons, who as heads of their families represent families connected to Vuvale Sautu values. We look forward to catching up with them later in the year when we help them to launch their programme.
And, in Porirua, we got together with the Kuki Vaine Toa (Cook Island Women’s Champions of Change), where they completed the design of their prototype. It aims to address family harm in the Cook Island community in a programme run by its own women and we look forward to launching this in Tokoroa.
MAY: Hamilton based Kaute Pasifika invited us along to present our Fofola e Fala Kae Talanoa e Kāinga framework. Special thanks go to Reverend Saane and Peni Langi for bringing the presentation to life and helping those present to resonate with our cultural values.
JUNE: Two sessions this month shone light on our Cultural Capability Programme. The active engagement, thoughtful discussions and shared learning which were on show have further strengthened our efforts to combat family violence. The sessions delved deeply into the rich cultural practices, values, and protocols of Samoan O Le Tōfā Mamao and Fijian Vuvale Doka Sautu. It is these ethnic-specific programmes that are the backbone of our Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu frameworks.
PUBLISHED RESEARCH – Pasefika Protective Factors for Family Violence in Aotearoa New Zealand
READ MORE ABOUT the transformative benefits of Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu
- The transformative benefits of Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu
- Workforce Development
- Turanga Māori Reducing Family Harm On and Off Tokoroa’s Sports Fields
- Championing Change in our communities
- Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu – Reclaiming and revitalising culture as the basis of wellbeing
Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu is a Pacific community developed, owned and mandated conceptual framework underpinning Pasefika Proud, encompassing eight ethnic-specific cultural frameworks. Pacific cultures and values are community strengths that support family wellbeing and protect against harm.
The Nga Vaka Conceptual Frameworks inform eight ethnic specific programmes. The programmes provide participants with an in-depth insight into cultural approaches to achieving family wellbeing, especially when dealing with family violence.
This cultural training has been developed to target qualified Pacific practitioners such as social workers, counsellors (etc), and non-pacific people, either working specifically with Pacific families in the area of family violence or who are working with Pacific families and deal with family violence incidences or support as part of their wider work.
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