Evaluating the Effectiveness of Our Kaupapa
The Te Puna Taiao kaupapa has an intergenerational, holistic focus on improving outcomes, some of which are not likely to be seen within one, two or even five years.
With this in mind, and the need to ensure we are able to review, respond and refine the kaupapa at every opportunity, evaluation programmes need to be designed to meet key short and medium term goals.
A range of improvements to the hauora of children and communities are predicted through the implementation of Te Puna Taiao. These outcomes are summarised in the model below using Professor Mason Durie’s widely-used whare tapa whā Māori health framework as its basis, modified to a venn diagram model with the individual taha (hinengaro, tinana, and wairua) set within taha whānau, then set with Te Ao Tūroa/the enduring natural world.
The Te Puna Taiao Charitable Trust has objectives for each of the five taha, as detailed below, with an overall objective of ‘healthy, resilient tamariki and communities through transformed outdoor space’
TAHA
Taha Tinana
DESIRED OUTCOME
Tamariki develop positive physical habits for life
WHAKATAUKI
Mauri tū, mauri ora
An active soul is a healthy soul
MEASURES
• Fitness
• Body Mass Index
• Agility
• Coordination
• Obesity rates
• Knowledge of kai
• Kai choices
TAHA
Taha Wairua
DESIRED OUTCOME
Tamariki are confident in their identities and develop resilient mental health habits for life
WHAKATAUKI
Mā ngā pakiaka e tū ai te rākau
With strong roots a tree will stand
MEASURES
• Anxiety rates
• Loneliness rates
• Depression rates
• Self esteem
• Perseverance
• Incidence of bullying
TAHA
Taha Hinengaro
DESIRED OUTCOME
Tamariki are equipped with the skills of the future
WHAKATAUKI
Iti noa ana, he pito mata
Only a little morsel with raw potential
MEASURES
• Skill acquisition
• Reading
• Writing
• Maths
• 21st century skills
• Language use
TAHA
Taha Whānau
DESIRED OUTCOME
Tamariki and communities strengthen their connections to each other, their whānau, their kura and mana whenua
WHAKATAUKI
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari taku toa he toa takimano
My strength is not mine alone, but the strength of many
MEASURES
• Representation of whānau views in the kura
• Engagement of whānau with the kura
• Sense of identity
• Sense of belonging
• Mana Whenua reflected in the school environment
• Community cohesion and connectedness
• Tolerance of diversity
TAHA
Te Ao Tūroa
DESIRED OUTCOME
Tamariki and communities are empowered in their roles as kaitiaki of Te Ao Tūroa
Schools contribute to local ecological health
WHAKATAUKI
Whaungarongaro te tangata toitū te whenua
As man disappears from sight, the land remains.
MEASURES
• Environmental knowledge
• Knowledge of sustainability
• Connection to Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Tūroa
• Biodiversity of school
• School contribution to local ecological health - air quality, biodiversity etc
Evaluation of impacts at Te Kura o Motueka / Allandale School
At the end of 2017 Allandale School became the first school to adopt the Te Puna Taiao kaupapa, with their “Project Taiao”. Wiorking together with the kura, whānau, community and local council, as well as landscape designers, we supported the school community to reimagine and transform their school’s outdoor spaces into a multi-use play and learning space including all the design elements outlined in the Te Puna Taiao kaupapa.
Allandale is a Decile 2 primary school of around 400 students, approximately three quarters of whom identify as Māori. They were particularly interested in the potential of the project to build resilience in their tamariki and improve equity in outcomes for their majority Māori students. In implementing Te Puna Taiao, the Allandale school community also wanted to create an asset for their wider Kopeopeo Community; a whānau-friendly multi-use outdoor facility with something that would appeal to everyone. They saw this as a chance to improve whānau engagement with the kura and transitions to school for their new entrants from home or Early Childhood Care.