PĀNUI
NEWS
Honouring Our Whakapapa: The Shift From Whānau Ora Navigator to Kaitūwhana Kaimahi.
03/12/2025
At He Waka Tapu, our mahi is grounded in whakapapa, tikanga, and the strength of our whānau. As the Whānau Ora landscape evolves across Te Waipounamu, we have embraced an important shift in language and meaning, moving from the term Navigator to Kaitūwhana. This shift is not simply a rebrand. It is a return to our whakapapa and a reaffirmation of the way our tīpuna understood collective responsibility and leadership.
As our CEO Toni Tinirau reflects, “I think this shift moves us away from a term that became familiar and overused. ‘Navigator’ became the trendy word for NGOs and Ministers about 12 to 14 years ago, and over time it drifted away from whānau being at the centre. The renaming to Kaitūwhana is a real reset in direction. It’s about reclaiming mana for whānau. It’s a kupu that sits across the motu and returns us to the whakapapa of this mahi.”
Across Te Waipounamu, our Ngāi Tahu tīpuna crafted tūwhana, long poles used to cross swollen rivers. These poles were symbols of ingenuity, collaboration, and survival. The kaitūwhana who guided the crossing worked alongside their people to ensure everyone reached safe ground. They did not carry the group across; they equipped them with what they needed to cross themselves.
This is the heart of the Kaitūwhana role today. Our kaimahi walk alongside whānau through modern flood conditions such as housing insecurity, financial strain, system barriers, and the weight of social challenges. Their role is not to steer the waka for whānau, but to hand them the tools, knowledge, and support to steer it themselves. The mana remains with the whānau. The Kaitūwhana is the connector, the steadying presence, the one who ensures no one navigates those waters alone.
"Like our tīpuna crossing those flooded awa, we move forward together with purpose, with wairua, and with the understanding that our strength has always been in our unity."
Vic Ashworth, one of our kaimahi currently working in this space, sees the challenges our whānau face every day on the frontline.
“For me, a lot of what whānau find challenging comes down to financial stress and the daily pressure of just trying to survive. Another big one is dealing with the system and not understanding how it works. A lot of our whānau are frightened they will say the wrong thing and it will be used against them. My role is not to speak for them. It is to support them to have their own voice”
From 1 January 2026, Te Tauraki has confirmed that 97 Kaitūwhana roles will be delivered across Te Waipounamu, supported by 26 providers selected through a rigorous RFP process. This regional model ensures that resources are placed where they will make the greatest impact, guided by Māori population data and areas of high need. For whānau already engaged in services, the transition will be carefully supported to ensure continuity and ease.
Here at He Waka Tapu, this means our small team will grow significantly, something Vic is excited about.
“I am ecstatic. There is only so much one person can do in a day. So having more kaimahi means better support, better outcomes, and more time to walk alongside our whānau to a healthier future.”
As an organisation, we see this shift as completely aligned with our values. They are outcomes we strive for every day. Toni reiterates this expectation of integrity and groundedness for those stepping into the Kaitūwhana space:
“If you think you have what it takes, you need to show up with lived experience and good common sense. You need to be clear about your own backyard. We are not asking for perfection, but you should be able to role model what it looks like to adjust your own sail during times of chaos. If you cannot show that, then please do not apply. Your tohu adds value, but the most important thing is your ability to steady yourself and others when the waters get rough.”
If you feel a calling to this kaupapa, we are currently recruiting Kaitūwhana kaimahi, please see the link below on how to apply.
