The journey of Pūao-te-Ata-tū : what did we learn? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work in Social Work at Massey University, Manawatu, Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

“Pūao-te-Ata-tū The heralding of a New Dawn”, How could a simple policy document sustain so much mana over a thirty year period of time? Being a new, young Māori social work practitioner in the late 1990s was an influential time for the researcher, and there was an on-going relevance and significance of this policy document Pūao-te-Ata-tū that was difficult to explain. It would seem that Māori were still a predominant feature in the clientele for the welfare system, yet this document pledged to address the inconsistencies in policy and practice to address those very unbalanced statistics. Pūao-te-Ata-tū was published thirty years ago – how much did it change practice in Child, Youth and Family, did it lead to the changes expected? Apart from working through policy, literature and legislation another approach was to go back to those involved with the Ministerial review committee at the time and seek their views on what their expectations were then and what their reflections are now. The findings of this thesis highlighted a clear factor that Pūao-te-Ata-tū was much more than just a policy document, it was an approach that has never been replicated but its authenticity as a voice for the people was immeasurable. There was also significance in the period in which this review took place; the social climate in Aotearoa New Zealand at the time was changing. These changing times were driven by dynamic people who took risks and approach things in an unconventional fashion. As fluid and free as change may have seemed at the time our findings were that overall change will only occur if the political powers in place support that change wholeheartedly. Pūao-te-Ata-tū although not successful in its full entirety, it may not have yet exposed its full potential; there is capacity within its powerful doctrine that its best is still to come.