PĀNUI
NEWS
Open Group Spotlight: Te Pā Tuwatawata.
06 / 01 / 2026
Te Pā Tūwatawata is a kaupapa designed to respond to harm within whānau by creating space for reflection, accountability, and change. Rather than centring punishment or deficit, it focuses on strengthening tāne across hinengaro, wairua, tinana, and whānau wellbeing, recognising that lasting change requires deeper understanding of self, relationships, and responsibility.
For many whaiora, making that first step down the driveway into He Waka Tapu is one of the hardest parts of the journey. As facilitator Dave Sio reflects, walking through the doors takes courage, especially for tāne who are carrying shame, fear, or uncertainty about how they will be received. What matters most in that moment is knowing they can enter the space without judgement.
Te Pā Tūwatawata provides that space. Tāne are welcomed into a kaupapa that acknowledges harm while holding dignity and mana. The aim is not to condemn, but to support whaiora to reflect honestly on behaviour and to gain practical tools to regulate emotion and respond differently.
Many tāne arrive with a limited emotional vocabulary.
As Dave observes, for some, the only emotions they know how to express are love, hate, and anger. When emotions sit unprocessed or unmanaged, they can spill into whānau life in harmful ways. Te Pā Tūwatawata supports tāne to slow down, recognise emotional triggers, and learn new ways of responding before things escalate.
The kaupapa is grounded in Te Ao Māori, creating opportunities for whaiora to reconnect with whakapapa, tikanga, whānau, wairua, tinana, hinengaro, and te reo Māori. This grounding offers a different perspective, helping tāne to see themselves not only as individuals, but as part of an intergenerational story with responsibilities to those around them and those yet to come.
"Te Pā Tūwatawata is not about excusing harm. It is about accountability, growth, and supporting tāne to make deliberate, sustained change. By creating a space where tāne can reflect without judgement, learn new skills, and reconnect with kaupapa Māori values, the programme contributes to safer whānau relationships and stronger futures."
Through this lens, tāne are encouraged to consider the kind of role models and mentors they want to be for their hoa rangatira, whai ipo, tamariki, and mokopuna. Tamariki and mokopuna are recognised as the next generation, shaping their own world, and deserving of lives free from abuse. This focus on legacy is a powerful motivator for change.
Te Pā Tūwatawata operates as a weekly open group, allowing tāne to enter at different stages while benefiting from shared learning and collective accountability. Sessions explore emotional regulation, communication, values, identity, and whānau relationships using accessible concepts and metaphors that resonate across lived experience.
The impact of the kaupapa is often seen not in grand gestures, but in quiet, meaningful moments. Dave shares one such story of a whaiora who came into He Waka Tapu just before Christmas to introduce him to his partner and newborn baby. The whaiora reflected that without Te Pā Tūwatawata giving him purpose and tools to apply in everyday life, he would not be back with his partner or child. He acknowledged that real change required him to take responsibility and do the work.
That same whaiora went on to identify the issues he needed to address and began applying what he learned in both his whānau and work life. Each week, he reviewed what was going well, reflected on challenges he encountered, and worked through solutions rather than reacting. These small, consistent shifts became the foundation for rebuilding trust and stability.
This kaupapa reflects He Waka Tapu’s commitment to whānau-centred, culturally grounded approaches that address harm at its roots. When tāne are supported to regulate emotion, understand impact, and walk a different path, the benefits extend beyond the individual, strengthening whānau and communities for generations to come.
