8 wāhine from cohort 7 joined kaimahi on Wednesday the 10th of July, for the Te Iho Tapairu programme whakatau. This was a new process for some of the women in attendance, the start of many firsts as they venture into a space that is unfamiliar.
Te Iho Tapairu* is a 10 week journey that provides a safe space for wāhine from all walks of life to come together, learn, and thrive alongside one another. The name serves as an affirmation for the wāhine who choose to engage in the service. It aims to elevate their ways of thinking, doing, and being, by restoring balance and allowing kōrero tuku iho to guide the space.
A wide range of sessions are facilitated, that help connect the wāhine to te ao Māori, taiao, and their identity, supporting them to become the best version of themselves. Rongoa Māori, taonga puoro, and mau rākau are amongst the most popular sessions.
The wāhine that embark on this journey, have an array of life experiences and varying reasons for joining Te Iho Tapairu. Some are looking to reconnect with themselves, their Māoritanga, or to others. A couple of qualities they all share however, are a readiness to make changes to their lives, and a desire to be the best versions of themelves possible. Tysharna who is one of the programme facilitators, says that often the women don’t realise all that they are capable of.
“Sometimes the wāhine don’t believe that they are capable of doing certain things, so being in a group setting really helps. They’ll see others doing that exact same thing, and it pushes them to try things out.”
Goal planning is one of the first activities that takes place, so that facilitators have a clear idea of how the wāhine can be supported throughout the journey, says Tysharna.
“An important part of our mahi is putting a plan in place, so that the wāhine know what their next steps are once the ten weeks are up and they are confident to do it on their own.”
The programme draws from different pūrākau weekly, which are used to guide kōrero and wānanga, and influence activities. These pūrākau are about tūpuna wāhine, who embody all the attributes of mana wāhine. The roopu resonate with these kōrero about their tūpuna, and can begin to identify these attributes within themselves.
Tysharna shares that the most rewarding part of her mahi is seeing the changes that take place over time.
“For me it’s witnessing the connection they make within themselves and with one another. It’s how they move forward without us at the end of the programme, having the tools needed to be self-sufficient”.
One of the past cohorts is still in the process of reconnection and regularly meet up to support one another when needed.
“They’ve started meeting up to climb one another’s maunga”, shares Tysharna. “The coolest thing about this is that they’re able to find ways to connect to each other and their Māoritanga without external support.”
Graduates leave the programme with strengthened connections to self, taiao and te ao Māori, a deeper sense of identity, and a greater appreciation for self. The wāhine are self-sufficient in making their goals a reality and reflect the qualities of the tūpuna wāhine they’ve shared kōrero around, over the 10 week period.
Cohort 7 have embarked on a journey that in time will bear many fruits. We are excited to witness their growth and look forward to celebrating them at their whakapōtaetanga later on this year.
*Iho: geneological connection between iho atua and iho tangata, like an umbilical cord. It also speaks to the inter-generational transmission of knowledge.
*Tapairu: a high ranking female.
