Matariki – a time to think about the whānau

Matariki is the star cluster that appears in the coldest months of the year.  This cluster is also known as Pleiades and in ancient Greek mythology the appearance of Pleiades signalled the time to stay off the seas and to work the land.  In the Maori tradition of Ngāti toa Rangitira, Matariki is the mother of 6 daughters who are together on a journey to visit their great grandmother Papatūānuku. 

Matariki is the time when Maori celebrate the end of the harvest with its bounty and the beginning of a New Year. It is especially a time to celebrate and think about whānau.   This festival is also a time to think about the conflicts that sometimes exist in families and more importantly, what can be done to resolve such conflict, to allow new beginnings and the shaping of better futures. Each of Matariki’s daughters has a special role to play. At Fair Way, we using Matariki as a time to reflect on how the dispute resolution services we offer can be improved and made more widely available to help people who are in conflict move forward into a brighter new year.

Our Family Dispute Resolution service focusses on finding the strengths in parents/ mātua and families/whānau.  Our Family Dispute Resolution mediators work with parties to weave these strengths into a cloak/korowai which can shield the children/tamariki and help them enjoy their childhood.  Children can then grow into adults without the impact of serious unresolved conflict colouring their lives.

Just like Tupu-ā-nuku, the eldest of the daughters who spends her time nurturing different planets, our mediators create time for parents to talk about their children and the nurturing they need.

Fair Way also encourages parents to nurture themselves by attending education programmes such as Parenting Through Separation, attending Preparation for Mediation and getting legal advice before they come together to talk about their children.  Parents are also encouraged to talk about care arrangements that meet their needs, be that time to recover from parenting, financial arrangements and the practical things which make families work.  Family Dispute Resolution mediation is not designed to end conflict.  It is designed to use the energy which the conflict creates to help parents make and review plans based on the changing needs of the children.

Matariki is a good time to think about the whānau and tamariki. If you would like to talk to us about your family and childcare issues, phone us on 0800 77 44 20.