E Tipu E Rea Whānau Services was established following the successful implementation of the teen parent project at Auckland Women’s Centre. This project highlighted the need for an independent, Auckland-based teen parent service.
We began as Thrive, officially established in 2011 to support, protect, and empower vulnerable teen parents in West and Central Auckland and dismantle the burden of societal stereotypes, negative preconceived ideas and discrimination which can accompany young pregnancy.
The transition to E Tipu E Rea Whānau Services came about because of the belief in our whānau in upholding the mana and hauora of young Māori – and using a kaupapa Māori to support people of all backgrounds. We embark on the journey of adolescent pregnancy together including facing the challenges of poverty, violence, drug and alcohol misuse, mental illness, socio-economic deprivation, discrimination and racism which can shape the reality for many young parents and limit their ability to grow and thrive.
E Tipu E Rea, meaning “to grow and to thrive” from a kōrero by Ta Apirana Ngata, encompasses our kaupapa on three levels:
- Whānau: as we help our rangatahi gain the tools and skills to fulfil their potential and strengthen as a whānau
- Whakapapa: as our support networks encourage mātua taiohi to reconnect with their hapū, their whenua and their whakapapa, because this has an immeasurable impact on their hauora wairua
- Te Ao: international teen pregnancy rates are most represented by indigenous peoples, and a colonial stigma victimises and sidelines teen mothers as an economic problem. Our kaupapa is to dismantle that stigma by helping mātua taiohi enact their rangatiratanga.
