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Takiwātanga Resource Project

Takiwātanga Resource Project

Whānau resources

The whānau resources are now available. Our goal with this resource is to share knowledge around takiwātanga to those in the initial stages of their journey. The whānau resource has been organised around a tongikura left by Kiingi Taawhiao:

“Tupu te toi, ora te toi, whanake te toi. Te toi i ahu mai i Hawaiki” meaning “Grow the treasure, sustain the treasure, develop the treasure. The treasure from Hawaiki”

Click here to access the resources for free

The e-learning resource is divided into three modules:

  • Tupu te toi | Grow the treasure – Begins with planting the seeds of knowledge, offering a te ao Māori perspective on takiwātanga.
  • Ora te toi | Sustain the treasure – Moves to sustaining that understanding, empowering you to explore a diagnosis of autism and what that might look like for you and your whānau.
  • Whanake te toi | Develop the treasure – Helps you grow that knowledge with strategies grounded in traditional practices to guide you further along the journey.

This series is a koha designed by tāngata whaitakiwātanga (Autistic individuals) and their whānau. Our aim is to introduce takiwātanga to those starting their journey, sharing our experiences at this moment in time. Through our voices and those of our tūpuna, we hope to offer both understanding and hope

Tuhoro Hita (LEFT), who has a traditional neck tattoo, and Jessica Hita, who wears glasses, cuddle their son Te Aurere Hita.

What is it?

Altogether Autism and Kanorau have been working together to develop and provide culturally appropriate Takiwātanga (Autism) resources for the community, whānau, hapū and iwi.

We Aim To

  • Provide credible and up to date information to whānau Māori around Takiwātanga.
  • Invite open feedback, reflection and discussion to amplify and extend the voices of whānau Māori to express their understanding of Takiwātanga.
  • Create free learning resources to develop relevant information and share knowledge through a Te Ao Māori lens on Takiwātanga.
  • Create resources that can be used by Tāngata Whaitakiwātanga, whānau and professionals who engage and support Tāngata Whaitakiwātanga and their whānau.

Re-storying Autism and Indigenising Narratives.

Participation

Who has Participated?

  • Tāngata Whaitakiwātanga
  • Whānau members supporting and caring for a Tangata Whaitakiwātanga.
  • Kaumātua experts in kōrero tuku iho, pūrakau and tikanga on disability matters.
  • Māori professionals who work with and support Tāngata Whaitakiwātanga.
  • People who are interested in sharing their knowledge and experience to help build resources to amplify the voices of lived experience and counteract narratives that can be harmful to whānau Māori.

Our Wānanga Have Focused On

  • Whakawhanaungatanga.
  • Gathering kōrero and insights.
  • Common narratives around takiwātanga.
  • Barriers within Te Ao Māori.
  • Identifying the culturally unmet needs.
  • Identifying what resources are needed.
A large group of people are gathered in front of Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa marae, located nearby Auckland Airport. In the top corners of the image are the Altogether Autism and the Kanorau Takiwātanga Consultants logos. Text at the bottom of the image reads, Takiwātanga wānaga - March 2024

Who is Leading This Mahi?

This project is supported by Te Pou funding through Your Way | Kia Roha (Altogether Autism) and Kanorau Consultancy.

It is being co-led by:

Jessica Hita (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu)

Jessica, on behalf of Kanorau Takiwātanga Consultants is a Māmā to ataonga takiwātanga, a te Titiri lawyer and a strong advocate for tāngatawhaikaha Māori in the disability space. Jessica is a Director of Kanorau, a kaupapa that provides Māori Autism support, information and programs to enable taonga takiwātanga and their whānau to lead good lives and to educate professionals who support taonga takiwātanga to grow their knowledge and understanding of takiwātanga from a Te Ao Māori perspective.

Jessica has long brown hair and is wearing a white flowing dress. She is wearing a pounamu taniwha necklace and earing.

Jamie-Leigh Tmoti (Ngai Tai)

Jamie-Leigh on behalf of Altogether Autism is an experienced community facilitator with over five years’ experience in autism information and education. She is a māmā to neurodivergent children and has lived experience of disability at a professional, personal, whānau and community level. Jamie-Leigh worked on the release of He Karu, He Taringa and is experienced in delivering reflective practice sessions based on content and context.

Jamie-Leigh wears a wide brimmed hat and necklace.

Contact

For further information about this project, contact either Jessica or Jamie-Leigh by email.

Jamie-Leigh Timoti –
Jessica Hita –

Our Why

“Kia mau ki ngā kōrero tuku iho.”

– Hold fast to the knowledge that is passed down from generation to generation.

Supporting Tāngata Whaitakiwātanga

The wānanga and resources aim to allow the voice of Tāngata Whaitakiwātanga to be heard and shared within Māori communities, providing people with information on the support they can receive, and allowing them to benefit from the lived experiences of other Tāngata Whaitakiwātanga.

Supporting Whānau

The whānau based delivery model allows people to learn in a way that is appropriate to them and provides them with a resource they can share with their communities, developed on a co-development model. Reducing stigma and isolation and providing a community network opportunity to gain support and connection.

Jessica Hita hugs a woman in a presentation room. She holds a young child in her other arm. This image evokes a sense of community.

Fostering Whanaungatanga

The nature of wānanga is highly relational and underpinned by tikanga Māori such as whanaungatanga, whakapapa, kotahitanga and aroha.

Our Approach

Our approach and delivery are built on a Te Ao Māori first worldview, to meet the needs of Māori participants and whānau and incorporating practices that respect and honour the cultural identity of the whānau by working with Māori Takiwātanga experts and bringing tikanga expertise alongside all activities.

Outcomes

Free Takiwātanga Resources

  • Mana-enhancing resources in both Te Reo Māori and English.
  • Available in multiple, accessible formats.
  • Informed by lived-experience and underpinned within Te Ao Māori.
  • Accessible on both the Altogether Autism and Kanorau websites.
A youngster sits happily at the top of a ladder. They're wearing a peace shirt and cool blue shorts, and is smiling down at the camera.

Whanaungatanga

  • Building and extending existing support networks with Tāngata Whaitakiwātanga, whānau Māori and professionals working within Te Ao Māori.
  • Empowering whānau to realise their potential and grow confidence to engage with the health, disability and educational systems.

Resources

Kuputaka Glossary 

  • Aroha – Love, compassion, empathy
  • Hapu – Subtribe
  • He Karu, He Taringa – Eyes and ears (referring to the short film)
  • Iwi – Tribe
  • Kanorau – Be diverse, diversity
  • Kaumātua – Elders
  • Kaupapa – Topic
  • Kirikiriroa – Hamilton
  • Kōrero tuku iho – History, stories of the past, traditions, oral tradition
  • Kōtahitanga – Unity, collective action
  • Mahi – Work
  • Māmā – Mother
  • Mana – Supernatural force in a person, place or object
  • Pūrakau – Legend, myth
  • Takiwātanga – Autism
  • Tangata Whai Takiwātanga – Autistic person
  • Tāngata Whai Takiwātanga – Autistic people
  • Tangata Whaikaha Māori – Māori disabled person
  • Taonga Takiwātanga – Autistic treasure (often used for describing an Autistic child)
  • Te Ao Māori – Holistic worldview of Māori
  • Te Tai Rāwhiti – East Coast of New Zealand
  • Tikanga – Custom
  • Tiriti – Treaty
  • Whakapapa – Genealogy, lineage, descent
  • Whakawhanaungatanga – Process of establishing relationships
  • Whānau – Families
  • Whānau Māori – Māori families