Kei aku whakateitei ki te whenua, kei aku whakatamarahi ki te rangi, rarau mai ki te whare korero o Te Hui. Ko Mihingarangi tenei e mihi atu nei ki a koutou katoa. Welcome to The Hui, Maori current affairs for all New Zealanders. E taro ake nei. Tamariki grappling with the trauma of tough childhoods. These are damaged children, aren't they? Yeah. Kids shouldn't see what they've been seeing. The anger is just a response to a traumatic history. But now a unique approach is offering fresh hope, with the help of some four-legged friends. Gentle pat in her safe space so that she can be calm. How connecting with nature is helping heal the hearts of some of our most vulnerable kids. And she's receiving the mark of her tupuna in a town where moko kauae is rarely seen. I don't want people to see me and feel horrified or` I don't know. I want people to have understanding and love for it. Theresa Butler is determined to help normalise ta moko in Canterbury for all wahine. It's OK. You don't have to be worthy. You are worthy. It's your birthright. It's part of who you are. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2019 Karahuihui mai. Research tells us tamariki who have been in violent, abusive environments are more likely to suffer depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress than their counterparts, and they're more likely to carry the scars with them for life. But a unique therapeutic approach is offering hope. Getting children back in touch with nature, using animals to help them rebuild their confidence. Kei a Ruwani Perera te roanga ake o nga korero. They're still so young, yet they've endured harrowing experiences that could damage them for the rest of their lives. It's what they've been... seeing, hearing, subjected to. Because of the situation we've... that they've came from, the trauma that they'd seen, new people bring new dangers. Jan, a 60-year-old grandmother fears for her mokopuna who grew up in a violent home. They all suffered PTSD. One grandson had ADHD. And these kids started to display the tremors, the anxiety, the fear. They would shake at night-time, you know, in their sleep. It's a sad situation. A situation Jan was desperate to change. I wanted to get them straight into therapy so that they could enjoy a childhood that they were starting to miss out on. And here amongst the towering pines, in rural East Auckland, is fresh hope. Willow Farm is a 55-acre sanctuary, a place of healing that's providing some respite to some of our most vulnerable tamariki and their whanau. Run by child therapist Debbie Rowberry. They can feel it as they come down the driveway, and that's the first stage of them connecting with themselves. And so, nature is that inroad into the inner path. The farm's tranquil setting and animals provide a calming environment for children with behavioural issues. Talking therapies don't work with children cos they can't describe how they're feeling or they're too scared to talk about how they're feeling. And it's the horses and dogs who play a pivotal role. Whaea Debbie uses them in various activities to understand what's going on in their head by observing their interactions with the animals. Hand like this, and you gotta let them sniff you, so put your hand like that and let them sniff you. Snuffles like that. What are some of these kids like when they first come here? They're in awe because they haven't been to an environment like this before. They often haven't experienced unconditional love, and they feel that interaction, and that's where the magic starts. Inside, inside. The majority of kids whaea Debbie sees are under the care and protection of Oranga Tamariki, like Jan's grandkids, referred by teachers or social workers to Willow Farm. I'm not interested in what's been written down on paper, because that's not a true indication. What I'm interested in is changing what's their inner world. And that's not in those case notes. The programme is free to schools decile three and under and caters to children from 5 years of age right through to teenagers. They've either been through the likes of family violence, or they've been uplifted, so they're in foster care. What I'm seeing is multigenerational, so two generations ago, there was family violence, and then the next generation family violence, and now this generation. There has been no empathy demonstrated to them in any which shape or form. No empathy in the system either, quite frankly, so how can a child feel empathy when there's been` it hasn't been shown to them? So by generating that bond, it's the natural growth of creating empathy within them, and the animals are a perfect way of doing that. As soon as they feel that bond, then the natural process of empathy occurs. It was Debbie's own traumatic childhood that's driven her to advocate for these kids as a survivor of sexual abuse herself. I had a lot of anger, so that's why I understand that anger is just a way to take away the other feeling. The bond with the animals came from that. So` And the bond with nature as well, cos my safe space, my safe haven was being in nature. Sharon Rickard is a clinical psychologist with Te Aho Tapu Trust. I work with children maybe as young as 4, 5 right up to 10, so primary-school age. Then I work with rangatahi, usually youth offenders. And then I work with women, yeah. And everyone has a trauma history. She says the first two years of a child's life are crucial to their brain development, and trauma can leave a lasting imprint on their brain and likely to have long-term damaging effects. What does trauma do to a child's brain? Instead of being in learning mode, they're in survival mode. Instead of learning of language and things like that, creative, all that stuff, developing, no. What we're doing is, we're just doing this survival stuff, so we're missing out` kids are missing out. Something else many kids are being deprived of is spending more time outdoors and interacting with nature, which can also have an impact on their well-being. We've become a generation of complete disassociation from ourselves. This environment helps you to be with yourself and be comfortable with yourself and not have to have a device. You know, addiction is just purely a way of taking away the uncomfortableness of being with yourself. Debbie says she's also noticed a huge gap in the state care system that's failing foster kids. In New Zealand, children who've been uplifted from their parents aren't always provided therapy to support them through the trauma of being removed. We wouldn't do that to animals. We would transition them. We would help them feel more comfortable, but we're not doing that with our children. The thing is, though, with this population is that it's usually an Oranga Tamariki population, so there's only so much time to make some real deep change. Well, it ain't gonna happen. So I think with any therapy for this population, whether it be, you know, what I do or what, you know, the animal people do, it's gotta be longer. And those who do get it aren't getting it for long enough. My youngest grandson, he will only have four sessions next term. He needs a lot more than four sessions. But funding's an issue, and I bought it up with Oranga Tamariki, and they've decided to look into it, so hopefully, he'll get... longer time. Debs can help him a lot more if she's got the funding. But even in that short space of time, Jan is encouraged by what she's seen. Yeah, I've seen a big difference. It's an ongoing issue. It's not something that can` which will change overnight. But it's getting better. It's still a learning process for everybody, so I'm not gonna say it fixed it in five minutes, but it's a lot better than when they first arrived. It's all about creating positive, lasting memories for these tamariki. It's my job to increase the feeling of self-worth. And along that process is a healing process to increase the feeling of happiness and the feeling of hope. Na Ruwani Perera tera korero. Hei muri i nga whakatairanga ka korero ahau ki te kaiarahi takirua o te ropu Kakariki. Marama Davidson joins me next. Hoki mai ano. The Green Party entered the last election promising results on climate change, reducing poverty and cleaning up our rivers, but two years in, have they made much progress? 23% of New Zealand children are still living in poverty. There's no significant developments to curb climate change, and many of our rivers remain polluted. So have the Greens been gazumped by Labour and New Zealand First? Joining me now is co-leader Marama Davidson. Tena koe. Morena. So kind, Mihi. (CHUCKLES) Hey, the government announced an end to a welfare sanction which discriminated sole parents who didn't or couldn't put both parents on the birth certificate. Is that a win for you? That sanction and seeing the end of it is a win for many mammas who have had intrusive sanctions like this put on them, and that sanction has stolen away from their tamariki. Now, I'll just go back a step. If it wasn't for the Greens, we wouldn't have seen an end to offshore oil exploration, the biggest increase to conservation funding in 16 years, domestic violence protections in the workplace, massive public transport investment as well. I'm really proud of those achievements, and the only reason we're talking about overhauling the welfare system is because we made sure that this government would prioritise that. It was something that the Greens campaigned hard on and have kept working on. Is it really an overhaul, though? Because there were 40 recommendations. How many did the government accept? Not enough, and so we've got to keep going. We're really clear about that. Three. There were three. There were three out of the 42, I think it was. And that's a good start` Sorry, the changes are good. Removing that sanction for unnamed fathers is good. Making it easier for people to work part-time before losing their benefit is good, but we need to overhaul, and we need to see the rest of the recommendations put in place. Greens are absolutely clear about that. Is it really good, though ` three out of 40? No, it's not good, but those changes are good, but we need to keep putting the rest of the report` The report is fantastic. It, sort of, squashes three decades of government punitive approach and says, 'That didn't work. It was not enduring and sustainable. People haven't got enough to live on,' so the report offers us a blueprint for overhauling. You talk about those mammas, cos most of those parents are mums; they're not dads. 98%. But there's 11,000 of those parents, and it impacts 15,000 tamariki. AAAP, who you've worked with in the past, who work with our most vulnerable, who advocate for our beneficiaries, they say that these people should be back paid. What do you think? I agree with the idea. I think that the sanction was wrong, and it didn't even work. It didn't even do what it was supposed to do. And so mammas for over a decade` too many decades, have been punished` They missed out on $28 a week, and since the government` Or more if you've got more than one child who has an unnamed father. So actually, families have missed out on that extra help. That's bread and milk on the table. So the government has said, Carmel Sepuloni has said, she won't be doing the back pay. Yeah. What can you do about that? I disagree that those women, those mums, should not be back paid, but what we will do` what we will do is put in place other parts, other recommendations from the report and make sure that we do have a system where people have enough. Increasing core benefits needs to happen. But that recommendation didn't get accepted either, and you've been an advocate for that. The report, the advisory panel, they suggested that up to 40% could be what the benefits should rise to, but zero? Yeah, and so that needs to happen. That's going to be a priority for us. That's the least of what we have to do to make it easier, including for those mums who have had that amount taken off them from sanctions. So, where do you start? Cos you're in the government. Yeah, and the start is by letting people know we need everyone's support. The Greens are here to back the voices of the people calling for change. And setting up a plan to put all of those recommendations in place. The work hasn't stopped at all. One of the other election promises, well, on the list, climate change is kinda a big one. Recently, we did a story with Ngati Kuri, and you're aware of that project. It's a very bold environmental plan, and they want to extend the Kermadec Sanctuary, ocean sanctuary, they want it to go over their land. It's called (SPEAKS MAORI). Are these the kinds of ideas that the Green party, you know, wants to get behind? Is this what you're looking for? Iwi leadership and mana whenua taking the lead is how we as a country will have the most enduring conversation plans. The way to protect marine sea life, the six million birds, I think it is, that are around Tangi Tahoe, just on their own. Is exactly the way we can set up our conservation and our sanctuary plans with mana whenua driving it. It's government who has to get in and support that, absolutely. So, you have mana whenua come up with the plan. What happens now? How do you get all the other players in to support them? Yeah, it's why agencies like Department of Conservation, Ministry of Primary Industries, Ministry for the Environment, the Ministry for Business Innovation and Enterprise, they all need to get in support. They've got the resources, the power ` that power needs to be shared ` because mana whenua have been kaitiaki for generations and centuries. There's an implicit responsibility to protect their moana and their whenua for mokopuna to come. And so that leadership and that Matauranga Maori is how we will restore our marine life, restore the mauri to our moana. The Greens absolutely support, and that's part of upholding the Treaty. Will you drive this kopapa? Yeah, I had a beautiful korero with Harry. I'm gonna go up` I'm gonna go up and listen to what their whakaaro is, what their plans are, which is for more than just the Kermadecs, I understand, and how can we help them, how can we help their waste-free plans; how can we help their biodiversity plans; how can we help their restoring and regeneration native plants and species and their pupu, their snails; how can we help them to be the leaders and put in the resources and the power behind them? And will it be something you'll bring up with David Parker, who's in charge of the Kermadecs? Absolutely. I mean, this is` the Kermadecs` Establishing the Kermadecs, which is only a small part of what Ngati Kuri want to achieve, this sanctuary, is a part of our confidence and supply agreement. So they come back on you to` To do it at the Wellington end? Yeah, it was our agreement to go into government with Labour as confidence and supply partners was to establish the Kermadec Sanctuary and restore marine habitats and biodiversity. So supporting Ngati Kuri, Sheridan and Harry and everyone, is the way that we do that. Ka pai. We will keep up to date with you on how you go on your trip and the plans there. Kia ora. Tena koe. Kia ora. Kia mau tonu mai ra te titiro he kaupapa ta moko e whai ake nei. Auraki mai ano. Moko kauae is a traditional Maori chin tattoo worn by wahine Maori. It's a visual representation of whakapapa, but it can also draw attention, both positive and negative, to its wearer. One Christchurch mum is preparing to challenge the norms of her community, and she's bringing them along for the journey. Anei te puurongo a Rewa Harriman. This is the story of one woman's journey to wear the mark of her tupuna in a town where moko kauae is rarely seen. I don't want people to see me and feel horrified or` I don't know. I want people to have understanding and love for it. And to be a part of the revival of this special taonga. I knew in my heart I was always going to have one. Was just a matter of when. 39-year-old mother of one Teresa Butler has decided the time is now. It's OK. You don't have to be worthy; you are worthy. It's your birthright. It's part of who you are. Teresa lives in Rolleston with her daughter and fiance. It's a typical Canterbury township on the outskirts of Christchurch. Everyone has clean houses and cars and, you know, everyone puts their rubbish bins out, and there's not many Maori around here. Being Maori, Teresa grew up as a minority in Christchurch, and now she is preparing to stand out even more in the community. I suppose being brought up in Christchurch, you just adapt to what the area brings you, really. Did you experience much racism here? Yeah, yeah, yeah. We grew up with it all the time. It's always been here. It's always been here. So` And it's still here? And it's still here. Definitely it's still here. Understandably, when Teresa told her mother, Mamae, she had decided to get a kauae tehe, she was concerned. I sat down and said, 'Oh, Mum, I want a moko kauae.' And she goes, 'Why? No, Teresa, No.' It was a clear indication that my mother had been brought up in this era where it was stripped from her, you know. And she was really, really concerned for me. When Teresa explained her kauae would be a lasting reminder of her love for her parents, her mum was won over. Sadly, she passed away last year. Today, Teresa will finally receive her ta moko and is keeping her mum close by. And it's perfect that I have my tupuna. So, everything that I love ` I've got Mom's blankets here. Mom's couch, everything that's Te Ao Maori to me. I'm just happy that this is the day, and I wish my father and mother were here. Her parents have passed on, but her community is here. Teresa posted her plans on the Rolleston Facebook page earlier this year. And today they are turning up en masse to support her. I've called it a ceremony. I didn't really know what to call it. It's my whare, so it's my rules, and it's the way I want it done. And I'm like that. Her friend Jenni-Leigh has also come to Tautoko. I'm really proud that Teresa chose to get her moko kauae done, especially because we're Ngati Porou woman in Christchurch. It's not as common down here as some other places in the north. But the aroha and the reasons are the same. With a full house, it's time to start, and the first step of the process is using a marker to draw the outline of the moko kauae. Teresa hasn't seen the design. She's trusting the ta moko artist to bring her moko to life. I don't know if anyone's ever gonna experience something like this in their lives, so I hope that I can give them an experience that they can walk away with. This is the first time Teresa has seen what it will look like. And Teresa's fiance, Murray, agrees. E te whanau. Nga mihi kia koutou. (RECITES KARAKIA) Moko kauae was suppressed through legislation, but in recent years, it's had a resurgence with more women having them etched into their chin. Teresa says she always knew she would get one. My whakaaro was, 'Why should I wait till I'm 50, 60 to wear my moko kauae?' Why not now?' Although Teresa's mother didn't live to her see her receive it, her fiance, Murray, is right beside her watching on. I'm very proud of her and in support her 100%. You know, it's a significant part of her life. And I admire what she's doing. An hour later, Teresa's moko kauae is complete. While the ta moko itself was finished quite quickly, it's been a long journey. Oh, overwhelmed, emotional, tired, so, so happy, yeah, very, very happy. After showing her new moko kauae to her parents and tupuna, Teresa then turns to thank her whanau and supporters. I just felt at peace, just aroha, just so much aroha in the room. A lot of the family that came in didn't really know each other. So it just bought whakapapa together. It was a real heartfelt, emotional rollercoaster, I think. Jenni-Leigh has also been overwhelmed by today's events. I feel like watching her get her moko kauae done, I feel like I want to get mine done. I feel inspired that if my friend can do it, then actually so can I. It's been a powerful experience for everybody. I don't wanna cry. I'd never experienced that before, that someone can have a moko in their home, coming to the home is, like, awesome. Yeah, yeah, really beautiful. And you can feel the love. It's just really moving. You're sitting there watching, and you're just like, 'Wow.' I dunno, you can just feel it. It's great. I love you. I love you. As Teresa steps back out in her hometown, she hopes sharing her story will help normalise moko kauae in Canterbury and hopes more wahine will follow suit. I just want to open up that path for any wahine that wanna get it done, encourage them to do it, to feel it inside them. You're worthy. It's your birthright. But now it's done, and it's with me for the rest of my life. Aatahua rirerire! Na Rewa Harriman tera ripoata. You'll find links to all of our stories on the Newshub website and via our Twitter and Facebook accounts. Before we let you go this morning, we would like to acknowledge the appointment of the first Maori to the Supreme Court, Justice Joe Williams. E te manu whititua ka nui te mihi ki a koe. Kua hikina te hui mo tenei ra. Pai marire ki a tatou katoa. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2019