Relating to whānau

Whānau and extended family can be a great help with raising your kids. They’re often our babysitters, counsellors, taxi drivers and friends. We don’t always get along well with everyone in our family, however.

People use the same relationship skills to connect with extended family as they use with their partner – communication, spending quality time together, and teamwork. Try to help everyone feel valued and respected for their role in the wider family.

Relationship Services has a whole section on their website about family relationships. It looks at ways to deal with special occasions, which can be stressful, and what makes families work.

This article on the Marriage website has tips on relating well with your partner’s family. The Improving Your World website has advice on maintaining relationships and ways to stay in touch with extended family.

The Baby Zone website has articles on different issues in family relationships, particularly those that come up around the birth of a baby.