Insight for Sunday 25 April 2010

Whanau Ora, the government's one billion dollar plan to pull struggling families out of crisis, is being branded wishy-washy, as the public struggle to understand, what it is and who it's for.

The Maori model of family well-being promises to give a hand up instead of a hand out, to Whanau who have been relying on multiple agencies, like schools, Child Youth and Family, and the Police.

Radio New Zealand's Social Issues reporter, Teresa Cowie, has spent time with two Maori families, finding out what it's like to be at the sharp end of social welfare "interventions" and asks how will Whanau Ora make any difference.

Below: A diagram from the Whanau Ora Taskforce which sets out its vision of the Whanau Ora framework.