Kei te mihi kia koutou kātoa

In September 2022, Manawanui were delighted to be invited to present at Te Ara o Tawhaki Marae to the local Hawkes Bay community, as part of the Manawanui Meets community engagement programme. The diverse audience of 73 were a mix of individuals interested in having more control on their funding, those supporting a whanau member with a disability, support workers, local social workers, and other health professionals. We were also delighted to welcome marae kaumātua, trustees and management who were keen to learn about self-direction.

Attendees mentioned that having a self-direction wānanga in a marae setting is more inviting, and provided a wider scope to understand and engage with the needs of whānau who are whakamā (shy or embarrassed) to access any form of assistance or question figures of authority.

Positive feedback from participants included:

• learning more about the option of self-direction and individualised funding
• the differences between traditional and individualised funding services, and situations where one or the other might be more appropriate
• feeling empowered to share information with their wider whānau – and support their right to choose
• Increased confidence and competence to advocate for selfdirection and the different options to suit their whanau’s needs
• The ability to ask questions in a safe and nonjudgemental environment

Whanau left the wananga with a deeper understanding of individualised funding, the support Manawanui can offer them, and Manawanui’s easy-to-use technology to support whānau to manage their self-direction journey.

Some background:

Manawanui Meets and Wānanga is a series of community engagement sessions, providing impartial advice and deeper understanding of different funding support options. It is a free service provided by Manawanui. Community groups are welcome to enquire about Manawanui running a session for their group. Just email neil.johns@manawanui.org.nz for more details

wānanga is defined as a place of higher learning, the process of sharing and reflecting upon current understandings that leads to decision-making for future success and the creation of new knowledge.

Manawanui wish to acknowledge our kaikōrero, Karaitiana, and our whānau voices, Kathleen and Kristina that dedicated their time to support our roopu, and we wish to acknowledge the host marae for welcoming us into their community and for the generosity and hospitality showed to us throughout the wānanga.