Executive Summary

Whākapapa-based whānau are a diffuse unit based on a common Whākapapa, descent from a  shared ancestor or ancestors, and within which certain responsibilities and obligation are maintained. Customary concepts of Whānau are founded on a set of underlying principles which together compromise a whānau model. The Whānau model can be transported outside of the Whākapapa group to other social grouping to give rise to the kaupapa-based whānau.

Kaupapa-based whānau share a common bond, other than descent, it may be geographical location or a shared purpose. Kaupapa-based Whānau are important in their contribution to Māori educational outcomes, perhaps through provision of social support, peer tutoring or through support of the Māori language. Further, Whākapapa-based whānau are distinct in that all Māori have connections to a Whākapapa-based whānau which has links to the land and is a potential source of health promoting resources, the Whākapapa-based Whānau has been identified by Māori as an appropriate vehicle for Māori development, and, the Whākapapa-based Whānau is recognised in both Government policy and in law.

Whānau in contemporary New Zealand are diverse, yet there are a number of distinguishing characteristics. Section 4 has four whānau vignettes which describe Whānau.

Finally two analytical frameworks are given. Founded on a Whākapapa-based definition of whānau are Whākamatauranga whānau and Whākapiripiri whānau. Whākamatauranga Whānau is a framework to conceptualise education outcomes in relation to whānau practices, whānau interactions and Whānau economic arangements. Whākapiripiri whānau is a framework to conceptualise Whānaungatanga and locates education and learnining outcomes as a function of whānau.