Mana Taiohi

EXPLORE

• Run a training or discussion on what a strengths-based approach is and how that translates into our work with young people. See resources below for possible trainers.
• See the Whanaungatanga section of Mana Taiohi for guidance on how to do this within the context of mandated relationships with young people.

• Run a training or discussion on using a strengths-based approach in individual or group practice with young people. See resources below for possible trainers.

• Have a group session to identify and build on community strengths.
• See the Hononga section of Mana Taiohi for guidance on how to identify your community and strengthen key connections.

• Engage with young people you work with to identify what their strengths are and how they could support needs they see in their family, whānau or community.
• See the Hononga section of Mana Taiohi for guidance on how to identify your community and strengthen key connections.

• Run a team-based process or training to identify your individual and team strengths and how you can best draw on these in your broader team and work environment.
• Check out Gallup Strengths Finder and take the Strengths Finder test or try out VIA. Strengths Network can help you find local strengths coaches. You could consider this as part of your professional development programme.
• Review resources and promotional material with young people engaging with your organisation to assess how young people are being portrayed.

• Learn more about what the Mana Taiohi Mana – Strengths-based Principle means
• Check out the following clauses from Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa:
  • 16 Āhua Pononga/Working Positively
• Read the Mana section of Ngā Tikanga Whānaketanga – He Arotake Tuhinga, our Review of Youth Development Research in Aotearoa
• Find out more about the strengths-based approach here:
  • Strengths Network South Pacific
  • 40 Developmental Assets
  • 5 C’s
  • Circle of Courage
  • Aotearoa-based indigenous models that are inherently strengths-based such as Te Whare Tapa Wha
  • VIA
  • Te Wheke
  • 5 Column Tool
  • Find training on the 5 Column Tool here

EXPLORE

• Provide training or a group session which helps your team to better support young people to develop and discover their own identity.

• Identify and seek training from a disability provider to assist in making appropriate adaptations to your programme to cater for all levels of abilities. You could check out Enabling Good Lives for ideas on how to support people with mixed abilities.

• Engage with Te Ngākau Kahukura, Rainbow Training and Guidance for the Youth Sector, local Rainbow organisations or gender-specific organisations to develop your organisation’s competency in this space.

• Identify local groups who you could seek support from to upskill in the area of culture and traditions, e.g. local marae, cultural centre, church, mosque, etc.

• Identify local groups who you could seek support from to upskill in the area of faith and spirituality, e.g. local marae, cultural centre, church, mosque, etc.

• Identify local groups who you could seek support from to upskill in the area of interests, e.g. sports, arts, music, cultural activities, etc.

• Identify local groups who you could seek support from to upskill in the area of social circles and influences, e.g. youth centre, youth group, etc.

• Learn more about what the Mana Taiohi Mauri Principle means
• Check out the following Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa clauses:
  • 15 Hakapakaritanga/Working Holistically
• Read the Mauri section of Ngā Tikanga Whānaketanga – He Arotake Tuhinga, our Review of Aotearoa New Zealand Youth Development Research.

EXPLORE

• Support your staff team to learn about the importance of whakapapa and provide opportunities for them to learn about their own whakapapa (whatever their cultural background). This could be in a one-on-one, a group session, training or course.

• Hold individual or group discussions that encourage self-reflective practice to explore how our own worldview could influence the work we do with young people.
  • Use Clause 10 Utu Painga – Personal Agendas of the Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa to help facilitate discussion.

• Run a training and discussion with your team on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the impact of colonisation on young people.

• Encourage your team to read the Code of Ethics sections on the history of youth work in Aotearoa and Kaiparahurahi.

• Encourage your team to read the Code of Ethics sections on the pre-colonial history of youth development in Aotearoa. Also read articles in Kaiparahuarahi.

• Learn more about what the Mana Taiohi Whakapapa Principle means.
• Check out the following Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa clauses:
  • 10 Utu Painga – Personal Agendas
  • 12 Āhua me ta Oranga/ Diversity and Cultural Safety
  • 25 Māramatia/ Understanding Aotearoa
• Read the Whakapapa section of Ngā Tikanga Whānaketanga – He Arotake Tuhinga, our Review of Aotearoa New Zealand Youth Development Research
• Māorimaps.com to find iwi connections.
• Kaiparahuarahi

EXPLORE

• Identify key Iwi and Ngā Mātā Waka groups in your community and begin to build relationships with them. A great place to start is through engagement and initiating relationship.

• Hold individual or group discussions with everyone working with young people to support them to better identify the connections a young person has and ways to enhance those linkages. See below for resources to assist in this process.

• Explore MyRivr, and the Family Services Directory to identify any organisations that would be beneficial to partner with, to support your work with young people and make approaches.

• Connect in with local and national networks. Explore MyRivr, the Family Services Directory, New Zealand Mentoring Network and Ara Taiohi Members or consider becoming a member to identify any opportunities to connect with local, regional and national networks such as Korowai Tupu (professional association for youth workers), local youth worker networks, etc.
• Contact admin@arataiohi.org.nz to find out more about Ara Taiohi and Korowai Tupu memberships.

• Learn more about what the Mana Taiohi Hononga Principle means
• Check out the following Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa clauses:
  • 12 Āhua me ta Oranga/ Diversity and Cultural Safety
  • 13 Papakainga – Ensuring Key Connections
  • 14 Tautauamoa – Working Collaboratively
• See
  • BronfenBrenner’s 4 Worlds Tool,
  • HEEADSSS (used in a strengths-based way) or
  • Te Whare Tapa Wha for ideas on a framework.
• Also
  • MyRivr,
  • the Family Services Directory
  • and your local networks could provide practical avenues to connect young people to these key social environments.

EXPLORE

• Work with your team to develop or review your policies to ensure Te Tiriti o Waitangi is considered in all of your work.

• Consider how to include references to young people as local, regional, national and international citizens in the development of your programmes.
  You could ask young people what area of interest they have, then engage with with Local Government, the Ministry of Youth Development or UNCROC.

• Incorporate individual or team discussions on human rights and discrimination training for all staff working with young people.

• Hold a session with your team to identify how you could better empower young people. And/or training on youth participation. Contact Ara Taiohi for more information on where you could find this training.

• Learn more about what the Mana Taiohi Te Ao Taiohi Principle means
• Check out the following Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa clauses:
  • 22 Ōu Tikanga – Rights and Responsibilities
  • 24 Kawenga – Agents of Change

EXPLORE

• Hold training on the Code of Ethics which focuses on how to build and maintain the primary relationship with the young person. Contact Ara Taiohi to see what’s available in your region.

• Run training on building quality relationships with young people to enable authentic relationships regardless of whether the young person is mandated to work with your organisation. Youth work skills are essential to ensure success in working effectively with young people, especially when their participation is not voluntary.

• Run training on the Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa.

• Review existing time allocations, ratios and process for team/staff members who work directly with young people, within funding constraints.

• Run training on ethical situations that arise in your organisation to help identify group processes and expectations that will come up when workers engage with the community either in work or non-work situations. This includes establishing mechanisms to include debriefing in orientation, induction and ongoing work situations.
• Contact Ara Taiohi to see what ethics trainings we have in your area.

• Review how your organisation informs young people of the services you offer, the nature of their involvement and any risks.

• Review how your organisation ensures informed consent from young people who participate in your services/programmes. For examples we’d recommend reaching out to your networks for support or assistance. Most organisations are very willing to share their policy docs.

• Review how your organisation ensures informed consent where appropriate from parents or caregivers of young people who participate in your services/programmes, taking into account age, culture and context that you work in (e.g. health, disability or rainbow). For examples we’d recommend reaching out to your networks for support or assistance. Most organisations are very willing to share their policy docs.

• Review the concept of confidentiality and the Privacy Act to identify whether your organisation is meeting these requirements. For ideas we’d recommend checking out the Privacy Commission or reaching out to your networks for support or assistance. Most organisations are very willing to share their policy docs.

• Review your existing processes to manage boundaries in an individual or group setting and identify whether young people have appropriate boundaries in relation to their age, cultural background, emotional, physical, gender, sexuality, values, beliefs and spirituality. This could be establishing boundaries for staff and/or group and individual contracts with young people. For examples we’d recommend reaching out to your networks for support or assistance. Most organisations are very willing to share their policy docs.

• Provide training to all staff working with young people to ensure that the organisation promotes positive attitudes towards sexuality and relationships, e.g. Mates and Dates, Family Planning or Attitude.

• Ensure that job descriptions and orientation make clear limits of roles and processes to seek support.

• Identify potential areas in your relationships with young people that could be abused for personal, professional, religious, political or financial gain. Consider face-to-face, online and unconscious bias.
  • You could use Clause 4 Puatatanga – Being Transparent
  • Clause 10 Utu Painga – Personal Agendas
  • and Clause 19 Matatau – Personal Awareness of the Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa to help guide discussions.

• Develop a policy to manage koha and gifts to individuals or the organisation.
  • You could use Clause 11 Āhua Kōrero, Āhua Taonga – Exchanges Between Young People and Youth Workers of the Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa to help guide discussions.

• Learn more about what the Mana Taiohi Whanaungatanga Principle means.
• Check out the following Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa clauses:
  • 1-12 in the Quality Relationships Section
  • 19 Matatau – Personal Awareness
• Read the Whanaungatanga section of Ngā Tikanga Whānaketanga – He Arotake Tuhinga, our Review of Aotearoa New Zealand Youth Development Research
• Code of Ethics Trainers (Contact Ara Taiohi for more information)
• NZ Youth Mentoring Network Resources

EXPLORE

• Learn more about the value of supervision and identify how to provide supervision (within your funding constraints) for all staff working directly with young people.

• Identify how you could incorporate more self-care and reflective practice into your individual and team processes.

• Review recruitment processes to ensure that all people recruited to work with young people are suitably qualified, experienced or trained to work with young people. You could use the Korowai Tupu Core Competencies as a guide.

• Provide your team with opportunities to access training in the Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa.
• Contact Ara Taiohi for more information.

• Identify how feedback from young people could be incorporated to ensure a supportive and caring environment is created for all young people. You could use a holistic model like Te Whare Tapa Wha to support this process.

• Develop a risk management policy to ensure best practice in working with young people. For example we recommend checking out either Community Net or reaching out to your networks for support or assistance. Most organisations are very willing to share their policy docs.

• Review any legislative changes to do with young people and identify any changes that need to be made to your organisation. You could check out Community Net, Youth Law, your local Community Law Centre or Citizen’s Advice Bureau for information on the latest changes.

• Learn more about what the Mana Taiohi Whanaungatanga Principle means.
• Check out the following Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa clauses:
  • 6 Noho Matatapu – Confidentiality
  • 7 Āhua Tika – Boundaries
  • 17 Tiakitanga – Looking After Yourself
  • 18 Whakahaeretanga – Supervision
  • 19 Matatau – Personal Awareness
  • 23 Ngā Mahi Ora – Safe Practice
• Read the Manaakitanga section of Ngā Tikanga Whānaketanga – He Arotake Tuhinga, our Review of Aotearoa New Zealand Youth Development Research
• Supervision Scrapbook
• Supervisor Directory
• Korowai Tupu Core Competencies
• Korowai Tupu Accredited Courses
• Korowai Tupu Membership
• Code of Ethics Trainers (contact Ara Taiohi for more information)

EXPLORE

• Explore the meaning and best approach for youth participation in your organisation.

• Discuss how youth participation can look across different cultural contexts and engage with young people and representatives of specific groups you are working with to support best practice in your organisation.

• Review feedback processes and discuss with young people engaging with your service the best way to get feedback.

• Identify how you seek input from young people when developing new programmes/services.

• Discuss how young people could be involved in management and governance of your programmes, services and your whole organisation. Some things you might want to consider are: models of youth participation (e.g. youth reps, advisory groups, tuakana teina, etc), training for the governance group on youth development. You may want to refer to Rata Foundation & Centre for Social Impact’s work on young people in governance.
  • If your organisation does not work directly with young people then consider engaging with community organisations who work with young people to enable more in-depth engagement.

• Explore within your organisation how young people could participate in formal staff or management roles in your organisation. This could be in a paid or voluntary capacity.

• Explore how young people could participate in the governance of your organisation. This could be in a paid or voluntary capacity.

• Explore how you could support young people to raise their concerns, have an active voice in their community and encourage youth-led advocacy within your existing services or programmes.

• Review how your organisation captures and responds to challenges and concerns raised by young people. This includes ensuring visibility of the complaints process for any young person engaging with your organisation.

• Learn more about what the Mana Taiohi Whai Wahitanga Principle means
• Check out the following Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa clauses
  • 16 Āhua Pononga – Working Positively
  • 20 Hiringa – Personal Determination
  • 21 Hakamanatia – Empowerment
• Read the Mana section of Ngā Tikanga Whānaketanga – He Arotake Tuhinga, our Review of Aotearoa New Zealand Youth Development Research
• UNCROC 9 Principles of Participation
• HART’s Ladder
• SHIRE’S Pathway
• Ani Wierenga’s Star Model
• Rata Foundation & Centre for Social Impact’s work on young people in governance

EXPLORE

• Review your organisation’s practice in supporting professional development and identify some ways that you could better support professional development of your team. This could include presenting at or attending conferences such as Involve, supporting youth workers to become Korowai Tupu Members and engage in Transforming Practice or supporting participation in further training or study.

• Connect with organisations like Ara Taiohi who provide information on new youth development research and legislation and share insights throughout your organisation. See Ara Taiohi’s Research Directory.

• Review your training schedule and identify any gaps. Consider non-formal learning opportunities such as conversations with young people or community members.
• Some key areas are:
  • Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa
  • Legislative changes (e.g. child protection, health and safety, human rights)
  • New cultural communities
  • Rainbow communities
  • Supervision and reflective practice
  • Te Tiriti o Waitangi, colonisation and decolonisation
  • Youth development
  • Youth participation

• Review your organisation against a youth development framework. Some options include: Mana Taiohi Youth Development Principles Aotearoa, 5 C’s, 40 Developmental Assets or other strengths-based framework such as Te Whare Tapa Wha.

• Identify ways your organisation provides access to information which supports young people’s wellbeing and discuss with young people engaging with your service about how this could be improved. This could be face-to-face, online or physical resources.

• Learn more about what the Mana Taiohi Mātauranga – Youth Participation Principle means.
• Check out the following Code of Ethics for Youth Work in Aotearoa clauses:
  • 25 Māramatia – Understanding Aotearoa New Zealand
  • 26 Mana Akoranga – Training and Professional Development
  • 27 Rangahau me Wāriutanga – Research and Evaluation
• Read the Mātauranga section of Ngā Tikanga Whānaketanga – He Arotake Tuhinga, our Review of Aotearoa New Zealand Youth Development Research
• Involve
• Korowai Tupu Membership
• Youth Work Courses
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi