Northland’s Ngāti Hine Health Trust is partnering with Triple P – Positive Parenting Program to support the wellbeing of local whānau, reduce parental stress, and nurture happy, healthy tamariki.

“This initiative is about prevention, not crisis, and about supporting whānau with strategies that reflect their values and aspirations,” says Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti, Ngāti Hine Health Trust Chief Executive.

“With 1,400 pēpi born in the past year alone, the time to invest in whānau is now. This is more than a parenting programme; it’s about nurturing whānau to thrive. We’re proud to be leading the development of parenting programmes that could inspire how iwi across Aotearoa uplift and care for their families,” he adds.

Triple P is a world-leading, evidence-based support system that provides parents, carers, and whānau with a kite (toolbox) of strategies to foster their children's social-emotional wellbeing and development by building strong family relationships, encouraging positive behaviours, and strengthening resilience.

The programme doesn’t tell parents what to do, rather it gives them the confidence and skills to create a safe, loving environment, establish consistent routines, teach emotional regulation, and support the development of babies through to teens.

“We’re looking forward to working alongside Ngāti Hine Health Trust to support their kaimahi. By fostering a culture of mutual care and collaboration, parents will feel more supported and be well placed to create a positive, nurturing environment for whānau in Northland,” says Jackie Riach, Triple P New Zealand Country Manager.

An initial Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Whangarei on Tuesday, 16 September to mark the milestone, which will provide the framework for the partnership to tailor and deliver culturally responsive and inclusive parenting programmes to Northland whānau.

The MOU aligns with the new Social Investment Agency’s priorities of intervention and prevention to help communities thrive by using data, evidence, and innovative approaches rather than crisis response.

Ngāti Hine Health Trust previously collaborated with The University of Queensland ten years ago on Te Whānau Pou Toru, a culturally adapted version of Triple P, designed specifically for Māori whānau.

Results from a randomised controlled trial involving 70 whānau from Northland showed that participants of Te Whānau Pou Toru experienced less parental conflict over child rearing and lower levels of challenging behaviour in their tamariki.¹

“The Te Whānau Pou Toru research and pilot outlined a blueprint for our collaboration with Ngāti Hine Health Trust, and we know that Triple P can support whānau in Northland,” says Jackie Riach.

“In these challenging times, our whānau are doing their best through a tight economic climate, and they deserve support that truly understands them. This partnership brings together practical tools, cultural wisdom, and real learning to help parents feel confident and connected as they raise their tamariki,” says Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti.

Follow Triple P NZ on Facebook or Instagram, or visit the Ngāti Hine Health Trust website for the latest news and updates. 

1. Keown, L. J., Sanders, M. R., Franke, N., & Shepherd, M. (2018). Te Whānau Pou Toru: a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) of a Culturally Adapted Low-Intensity Variant of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program for Indigenous Māori Families in New Zealand. Prevention science: the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research, 19(7), 954–965. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-018-0886-5