Irene Whitaker
New Zealand
My contribution comes from frontline experience delivering kaupapa Māori practices and group work within prison settings, particularly with wāhine, and the realities that both enable and obstruct this work.
The intention of kaupapa Māori practice is clear — restoration, connection, identity, and healing. However, the prison environment introduces significant complexities that sit outside of tikanga and often beyond our control.
Some of the most consistent barriers I have encountered include prison classification systems that restrict access, chronic staff shortages, frequent lockdowns, and the inability to physically access participants despite readiness and need. These disruptions fracture continuity, trust, and safety — which are foundational to kaupapa Māori practice.
In response, my approach has been grounded in the Mauri Model / Mauri Ora framework, which centres the vitality and life force of the individual. This approach requires a consistent commitment to normalising humanity and kindness in an environment that often unintentionally strips both away. Even brief or disrupted engagement can still uplift mauri when presence is intentional and respectful.
A key focus of the work has been identifying unmet needs as expressed by the clients themselves, and holding consistent space — when possible — for those needs to be acknowledged and addressed. Previous engagement has clearly shown that both wāhine and tāne value:
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Support with managing emotions
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Genuine connection
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Emotional regulation
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Self-soothing techniques
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Daily fundamental tasks that help regulate life in challenging environments
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And above all, feeling safe and secure
Feeling safe — emotionally, culturally, and relationally — stood out as a critical foundation for any meaningful engagement.
The education and approaches applied were firmly rooted in mātauranga Māori, including:
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Atuatanga / Mahi Atua — using pūrākau and atua to explore emotional and behavioural states
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Whakapapa — reconnecting individuals to lineage, identity, and belonging
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Whanaungatanga — fostering relational safety and connection
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Tuakana–Teina — supporting peer-based learning and shared responsibility
These frameworks allowed participants to locate themselves within a wider narrative of resilience rather than deficit, even within restrictive environments.
Despite systemic barriers, kaupapa Māori practice continues to offer moments of reconnection, dignity, and calm — moments where mauri is not just preserved but strengthened.
