Learning to Live Together
Te Kāpehu Whetū, located in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), has a small team of Salvation Army staff working out of Royal Oak Centre to provide a pro-social flatting environment where rangatahi (young adults) can transition from care to independence.
This programme began in 2014 and has continued to develop with the changing needs of rangatahi. As of this year, Te Kāpehu Whetū has three houses across Auckland where rangatahi from the ages of 16–21 live in a flat with kaitiaki (volunteer supportive flatmates) and are assisted by kaiārahi (youth development workers). When rangatahi turn 18, they leave Oranga Tamariki (OT) care. But with breakdowns and trauma, more rangatahi leave earlier and self-place. This can leave young people couch-surfing or homeless as they navigate this on their own. Te Kāpehu Whetū provides OT with a programme for rangatahi to experience what independence looks like with support.
Room to grow
Conor McGrath, team leader for the past two years, shares his insights.
‘We have the opportunity to help those who have come from a range of backgrounds, from caregivers to young ones sleeping in cars or parks. We also extend our net for rangatahi who seek refuge in Aotearoa New Zealand. All our rangatahi have in common that they have had no control over what has happened in their lives. Despite this, our rangatahi have the resilience to keep striving forwards and make something of their life, regardless of society’s judgments.
‘We endeavour to work alongside Transition to Adulthood workers (TTA), social workers and any other professionals, whānau, mentors or friends who may be important to, or working with our rangatahi. Te Kāpehu Whetū is not a placement, and for some of our rangatahi it is the first time they have had a say on where they choose to live since being uplifted.
‘Our focus is to provide rangatahi with tools to live independently. Unless we need to move people out, those that stay move on in their own time. These young people are some of the most resilient we have seen. We have had young ones move on to university, jobs and apprenticeships as they have discovered what they might want to do and have grabbed
‘Our focus is to provide rangatahi with tools to live independently.’ opportunities with both hands through the support of this programme.
‘We ask everyone in our programme to be doing something during their time with us. That could be working or looking for work, study or volunteering. Rangatahi are also taught life skills during their time in the programme, including consideration for others living in the house, daily chores and how to cook meals. Rangatahi are supported by their kaiārahi to budget, buy groceries and prepare a weekly meal for their flatmates.’
Pushing the boat out
Sam is a kaitiaki and says, ‘The programme is a great tool for teaching and helping young people develop and integrate into wider society. From a youth worker living in the house, it takes a lot of patience and grace, but the changes we see make it all worth it, especially around holidays like Christmas.
‘Our logo is a rangatahi leaving the safety of their motu (land) as a tautai (navigator) or kaihautu (leader) aboard their own va’a (canoe). They leave with humility and gratitude but also with a sound knowledge and whakapono (belief/trust) in the use of Te Kāpehu Whetū.
The whakatauki (proverb) that we use is: “Inā kei te mōhio koe ko wai koe, i anga mai koe i hea, kei to mohio koe, kei te anga atu ki hea. If you know who you are and where you are from, then you will know where you are going.”
‘Te kāpehu is a compass; whakapono is listening to your environment and letting it guide you. From what rangatahi learn in the house and what their current environment looks like, to what they have experienced in their life, this is how they navigate what direction they want to take in life.’
Confident and capable
A former rangatahi says, ‘I’ve become more confident in my time here as a member of the programme, I feel more comfortable speaking up when faced with issues and feel ready for the next chapter.’
Conor says, ‘We are privileged to work with the rangatahi that come into our programme; we hold on to the hope of their future and potential until they are in a place to be aware of it and hold it themselves. To be able to care for those that society has forgotten or ignored is a privilege and an honour for everyone involved. These rangatahi are a blessing for us at Te Kāpehu Whetū, and we believe they are truly capable of greatness.’
