About Kiwi Tahi
Our Kiwi Tahi programme is currently in redevelopment. We’re taking note of interest for when the programme is back up and running. If you have interest in the programme, please let us know.
Kiwi Tahi currently works in collaboration with Police Youth Services to identify 8 -12 year olds demonstrating a series of indicators and risk factors associated to offending behaviour. Research shows that early intervention and positive engagement plays a significant role in preventing youth offending and anti-social behaviour during impressionable years.
Most youth offenders that move into the Youth Justice system drop out of a formal educational setting by intermediate age but demonstrated these disengagement signals much earlier. This is a crucial stage in their overall development and need to reengage the disengaged to keep them connected socially and academically.
Kiwi Tahi is community-based, involves the whole family to help support and strengthen relationships, provide positive role modelling and enhance life skill development.
Download the Kiwi Tahi brochure here and the Community flyer here.
Kiwi Tahi is underpinned by this whakataukī (proverb):
Whāngai Ka Tupu Ka Puāwai
That Which is Nurtured, Blossoms then Grows
- Why Kiwi Tahi?
- Kiwi Tahi Research
- Kiwi Tahi History
Why Kiwi Tahi?
Kiwi Tahi’s aim is for participants to;
- Increase pro-social behaviour, emotional regulation, interpersonal skills, school engagement and community connectedness.
Whanau willing to engage will have an opportunity to strengthen family relationships, increase life skill knowledge, access community supports and support positive change.
Kiwi Tahi Research
An initial pilot was conducted in 2012. A formative evaluation provided anecdotal evidence that the young people had made positive changes in their lives. Of note was the improvement in their behaviour, attitude and general mood, and consequently the improvement in their school and family relationships. All the participants were highly engaged in the programme, and took part in activities that they would not normally be exposed to.
A much larger and robust Pilot was funded in partnership with a Community Funder and Ministry Social Development in 2015 and 2016. A mixed model evaluation (quantitative and qualitative) was administered through the Graeme Dingle Foundation. Participants demonstrated low confidence, internalised behaviours (withdrawing from family) and externalised anti-social behaviours. (fighting and truancy) The study showed evidence of increased pro-social behaviour, emotional regulation, positive thinking, interpersonal skills and school attendance. They also developed positive life goals and envisioned a more positive future.
Click here to read more.
Kiwi Tahi History
In 2001 Stephen Boxer MNZM founded the MYND programme which services the Auckland region. MYND targets high risk youth offenders and aims to reduce re-offending rates and stop young people becoming stuck in the youth justice system.
In 2010 Stephen observed that the family names of the young people who were being referred to MYND kept recurring. He concluded that this was because siblings or associates from the same families were becoming involved in offending behaviour. In part, this was due to siblings or young people following their brothers/sisters/cousins into the youth justice system because they were exposed to similar environmental and family-based risk factors. In addition, the young people were also exposed at an early age to the anti-social and offending behaviour of their older brothers/sisters/cousins, who were often the most significant role model/s in their life. It was also observed that the severity of the offending was increasing and at an earlier age.
Kiwi Tahi is a standalone programme like MYND, under the governance of the Graeme Dingle Foundation.