Peoples Times

The Men and Family Centre works with Government and other NGOs to improve the quality of life for men, young men and their families in the South Kaipara region. Our focus is particularly on men and young men that are underachieving and are struggling to take up their responsibilities in their families and the community.

Our objective is to assist men and young men to identify their place in the world (turangawaewae), how they can stand there and contribute what they have, as well as further develop their skills, knowledge and relatedness. We believe that when men and young men are doing the above our families and community will be safer, more compassionate and nurturing, more creative and entrepreneurial, as well as more satisfying and enjoyable places. Tama Tu Whanau Ora.

For us this involves establishing with in the community a Centre where men and young men can access services directed towards their needs. This venue is staffed by a fully qualified professional with the capability of designing and delivering programmes and services beneficial to men young men and their families.

We work collaboratively with other local and regional organisations to meet agreed objectives eg we currently collaborate with Ngati Whatua Nga Rima O Kaipara, Helensville Women's Centre, RTLBs, Te Rito Rodney, Te Awaroa Youth and Kaipara College on a CAF funded initiative that raises community awareness about family violence with the intention of reducing family violence. This is but one example of this community working together. We are always looking for opportunities to enhance this sort of cooperation and collegial support as apart from being more effective, it models congruent a way of working respectfully together that we'd like to see families and other organisations inspired by. 

Currently these services include counselling, career development and appropriate referral to specialist services, as well as psyco-educational programmes addressing issues like, couple relationships and communication skills, father and child relationships and adventures, clearing anger, good fathering (Tu Matua), and family violence. Mentoring programmes Papa Taoao and Tama Tane in colaboration with Kaipara College, local Marae and the University of Auckland.Other programmes eg mentoring, rights of passage from youth to men, Tikanga and kawa re male roles, and responsibilities in Maoridom are planned for the future.

Recent research within the community strongly supports the need for a locally based provider of services to meet the needs of men, young men and their families in the district and address the gaps identified through research and consultation with local groups and individuals.