CPAG Releases Kōrero With Matua Fred Andrews on Kaupapa for Welfare Reform

For te wiki o te reo Māori 2020, Child Poverty Action Group is excited to be releasing a series of videos discussing Kia Piki Ake Te Mana Tangata – the principles recommended by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group for welfare reform.

Manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, kotahitanga – these are important values with multiple interpretations. CPAG’s position is that such values are taonga with the power to create change, and therefore should be central touchstones for our social welfare system, and never treated as mere window dressing. 

Fred Andrews (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Rangimahora) kindly shares his wealth of knowledge and wisdom for this kōrero. Matua Fred sits on the paepae as whaikōrero (speaker) at both his mother’s and his father’s marae. He is also a welfare advocate with Auckland Action Against Poverty and has lived experience of receiving a benefit himself.

The Welfare Expert Advisory Group recognised their approach – Kia Piki Ake Te Mana Tangata – “is valuable only to the extent that it materially improves outcomes for Māori in a practical and tangible way.”

The aim of these videos is to offer a small glimpse of how these concepts are lived and practiced in te ao Māori; and to generate discussion, vision and hope about what a new welfare system founded on such concepts might look like. The commentary is entirely Fred’s – and he has some advice as to how to improve on the WEAG’s recommendations!

We will be releasing the videos throughout Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), 14-19 September 2020.