What Works: Parenting Programmes Effective with Whānau has been designed for policy analysts, programme developers and/or funders to provide information on kaupapa Māori and culturally adapted parenting and whānau development programmes, to inform policy and programme development. Kaupapa Māori programmes are those that emerge from within the Māori worldview. Culturally adapted programmes are generic programmes adapted to match the cultural context in which they are delivered.
This paper identifies a range of effective practices occurring across kaupapa Māori and culturally adapted parenting programmes. The range of characteristics of effective programmes include being: whanau-centred, focused on wellbeing, building on strengths, and having skilled Māori facilitators and role models.
Kaupapa Māori and culturally adapted parenting programmes can support whānau through strengthening Māori cultural identity and increasing the knowledge about traditional Māori parenting practices. Kaupapa Māori evaluations identify Māori-specific outcomes, impacts and cultural responsiveness in programme development and implementation.