HEART Wānanga

JR McKenzie Trust funded HEART to complete our first evaluation this year. Frances Hancock and Rachael Trotman were the evaluators. Both of these Wahine Toa have been connected to HEART and TWP for many years. We were grateful to have them on board and for the relational process they used to engage everyone. The evaluation findings will be available on the website in the new year. The evaluation, alongside the research completed as part of my doctoral study, give us a great platform for understanding what HEART has achieved so far, our strengths and where our future challenges lie. We were all very clear that it is early days yet in our journey to reach the goal "Tāmaki homes actively grow loving, safe and supportive relationships". It also affirmed us that we are on the right track. We discussed what structures and ways of working will best support HEART in the next phase and will keep working on this.

The biggest focus of the day was on our Change Agents as they are the engine room of HEART and community mobilisation. The second key focus was how we are all kaitiaki for the HEART Movement. We each have different roles as kaitiaki that are unique to who we are as people and the connections with have in the community. These two things are going to be discussed more over the coming months as we plan for the next years of HEART.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou to those who could be with us on the day, and to all those kaitiaki who support HEART but couldn't make it due to other Saturday commitments. Mauri Ora whānau.

Cristy Trewartha

On the 16th of November, 22 people gathered together in wānanga at Te Waipuna Puawai to reflect on where we have been with HEART so far, our recently completed evaluations, and to plan for the years ahead.

The group included HEART Change Agents, members of the Te Waipuna Puawai Board and Manukura, Advisory Group members, the HEART Programme Team, and our evaluators Frances Hancock and Rachael Trotman. Dickie Humphries who is a TWP Board member, Change Agent, and Leadership Coach for HEART, facilitated an awesome process. This was the first time that the community, TWP staff, and Board and the Advisory Group have come together to plan for HEART, and it was an important occasion for whakawhanaungatanga. A lack of connection between the community, the Advisory Group, and TWP Board was noted by a number of people in the evaluations and so building relationships was a key focus of the hui.