Kaiwhatu Kura Whānau: Weaving Support for Tamariki Impacted by Whānau Incarceration

*This kaupapa is through the continued advocacy of Ngā Rangatira Mō Āpōpō - Leaders for Tomorrow (Youth Advisory Panel).

The journey through the justice system is complex.

And it’s often overwhelming and isolating, especially for children with a parent in prison.

Through the advocacy of Ngā Rangatira Mō Āpōpō (Youth Advisory Panel), Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou calls for a solution: Kaiwhatu Kura Whānau - a whānau navigator to help families navigate the criminal District Court and weave wraparound support.

The name Kaiwhatu Kura Whānau carries deep meaning.

A kaiwhatu is both a guardian and a weaver—someone who preserves the taonga of their whānau, strengthens connections, and nurtures collective wellbeing. Like weaving a korowai, this role is about binding together threads of support, opportunity, and resilience for whānau navigating the justice system (T.Y. Youth Advisory Panelist).

Kaiwhatu Kura Whānau will help families understand the criminal court processes and access community-led services.

Why this Matters

Research shows that children of incarcerated parents are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing social and economic hardship.

Without intervention, tamariki with a parent in prison are 10 times more likely to end up in the justice system before the age of 21.

And yet, Aotearoa has no legal framework requiring their needs to be considered at any stage of the sentencing process.

"...in terms of the criminal jurisdiction-distinct from family-there is no express incorporation of a wellbeing or best interests' assessment of dependent children in the Aotearoa sentencing framework." - Francessca Maslin & Dr. Shona Minson.

Whānau navigators are not a new concept. Kaiārahi (Family Court Navigators) already play a crucial role in the Family Court, guiding whānau. Yet, there is no such role in the criminal District Court, where tamariki with a parent in prison face the most profound and invisible impact.

No dedicated role exists to ensure tamariki are seen, heard, or supported when their parent is sentenced.

Currently, we are building a community of stakeholders to have input into the specific design of this role.

The Role of Kaiwhatu Kura Whānau

Ngā Rangatira Mō Āpōpō call for a specialized whānau support role in the District Court - one designed to support whānau and tamariki impacted by whānau incarceration.

The Kaiwhatu Kura Whānau would:

• Navigate the court system and proceedings to empower whānau to make decisions that are right for them.

• Co-design Children’s Support Plans (CSPs) alongside whānau to ensure the needs of tamariki are prioritised at every stage.

• Provide pathways to wraparound support, connecting whānau with community-based services tailored to their needs.

• Advocate for tamariki and whānau impacted by the justice system, ensuring their voices are heard.

Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou calls for establishing Kaiwhatu Kura Whānau in the criminal District Court and Children’s Support Plans for all tamariki impacted by whānau incarceration.

It is time to weave a future where whānau are supported, to break the cycle of intergenerational offending and where every child in Aotearoa strides with confidence, no matter their circumstance.

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The journey toward transformational justice is one we take together. We invite you to walk alongside us so that no whānau has to navigate this system alone.

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