Pēpi Pākohe – raising confident and resilient pēpi

Georgina Taukamo

Georgina (Georgie) Taukamo is a Pūkenga Manaaki within Te Puāwai he Kākano – our suite of maternity and early years services.

In this article, Georgie shares her insights into Pēpi Pākohi Parent Groups.

How have parents responded to the Pēpi Pākohe programme?

I’ll share some feedback from one of our participating whānau with you. She says: “Pēpi Pakohe has been our highlight every week. We absolutely love coming and mingling with other mummas and talking about our struggles and everyone being super supportive of each other. It’s a beautiful supportive group Georgie and Lovey are so amazing it feels like they are whānau and I appreciate that more than I can put into words.  Thank you for allowing us an amazing space to come and spend our Thursday💜.”

What values do you see most strongly in the whānau attending the group?

Some of the values that are shown during our group include manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and rangatiratanga. All of our whānau show these values through the shared care of each other's pēpi and each other during these sessions. Every māma has challenges that they are able to share with the group and gain support to help them along their journey.

What challenges have come up in running the group, and how have you addressed them?

The initial space we had used for our group in the tari was too small. Since then we moved into one of the bigger meeting rooms to allow separate spaces for our newborn pēpi and children aged over two years. This change has been well-received by whānau, as it ensures the diverse needs of tamariki are met more effectively.

Another ongoing challenge has been engaging with our younger māmā and whānau to connect with the group. Through continued manaakitanga, gentle engagement, and relationship-building, the approach remains centred on allowing whānau to join when they feel ready and supported to do so.

How do you support parents to feel safe and confident in their parenting?

Safety and confidence are fostered through open group discussions that encourage trust-building and connection among whānau. Parents benefit from hearing and relating to others who have experienced similar parenting journeys, which helps normalise challenges and reduce feelings of isolation.

Reflection kōrero during sessions, along with regular feedback surveys, provide opportunities to assess the effectiveness of the group and identify any additional supports that may be needed. This ongoing reflection ensures our sessions remain responsive to the evolving needs and aspirations of our whānau.

What are your hopes for the future of Pēpi Pākohe?

We hope to continue fostering a safe, inclusive and welcoming space for our whānau. Supporting Lovey [Elkington] in the establishment of the rōpū Pēpi Pākohe has been a valuable opportunity to collaborate and contribute ideas that ensure whānau feel acknowledged, heard and supported. Central to this kaupapa is the reconnection of whānau to their whakapapa and traditional parenting mātauranga, while empowering them to strengthen their sense of rangatiratanga within themselves and their whānau. 

Photos from a Pēpi Pākohe session at Whakatū Hauora Hub