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About Tūpuna Parenting

The Tūpuna Parenting movement shares the gentle and respectful parenting ways of tūpuna (ancestral) Māori from pre-colonial times. Our tūpuna believed pepi were born tapu (sacred) and born with mana. This means our tūpuna treated them respectfully, were embarrassed if they cried, and never yelled at or smacked their whānau. We know all this from various sources of evidence, including mātauranga (knowledge) and early explorers' accounts. We want to inspire and empower whānau with tūpuna parenting to raise the rangatira (chiefs) of tomorrow. Tūpuna Parenting is led by the organisation, Pēpi Penapena. Elizabeth Emere Harte (CEO) and Dr Hirini Kaa (Chairman) are cousins, and inspired by the very important intergenerational mahi of both their parents, Helen Mountain Harte (1942-2019) and Dr Hone Kaa (1943-2012). Helen and Hone were both advocates for Māori tamariki across te motu, particularly in the era after Nia Glassie died and the anti-smacking law reform referendum took place (both 2007). Joleen Perry, CEO of Te Aka Ora Trust, joined our board in 2021 to provide business guidance and networking support in the social support sector, and we have 4 part-time wāhine in our kaiako team. Tūpuna Parenting has been funded by Te Hiringa Hauora (now part of Te Whatu Ora), Lotteries NZ, the Todd Foundation and the Rata Foundation, and is partnered with Te Aka Ora Trust in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa (Gisborne).

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