Āhuru Mōwai
Āhuru Mōwai is the name given to the Māori dimension of Parents As First Teachers (PAFT). It is the culmination of the ideas, thoughts and contributions of many people involved in the management and delivery of PAFT and was developed in 1999.
The meaning of Āhuru Mōwai
- Āhuru Mōwai refers to a 'warm and sheltered haven'. It is used to describe the nurturing aspects advocated by the PAFT programme.
- Āhuru Mōwai also describes the womb, te whare tangata, and carries a sense of protection, growth and fostered enlightenment.
Therefore, by using this term, we are acknowledging the safe, nourishing and growth-supportive elements naturally present for babies in the womb, and stating that for children to reach their full potential, the same elements must be contrived and maintained outside of the womb.
Training in Āhuru Mōwai
All parent educators in PAFT are offered training in Āhuru Mōwai.
The training is based on five key learning areas:
- Nga korero a kui, a koro ma - Māori oral traditions and what they say about traditional Māori child-rearing practices, from conception to young child stage.
- Te ira tangata - Māori child development, acknowledging Māori cultural values and preferences.
This segment of the training focuses on the specific ways Māori children develop when child-rearing practices are based on traditional Māori values - such as aroha, manaakitanga, whānaungatanga, whakapapa, wairuatanga, tuakana-teina relationships, and te mana o te tamaiti (unconditional love, caring for other, relating to others, genealogy, spirituality, roles of older siblings and the paramount rights of the child). - Nga ahuatanga awhina matua, hei kupenga hauora - Māori parent support methods and avenues that assist wider fulfilment for whānau.
- Tino rangatiratanga - Māori and iwi development based on te mana o te tamaiti (the rights of the child and Māori self-determination).
- He oranga ngakau - Keeping yourself safe and well.
