Te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini – A place to call home​

Papakura High School performing the haka pōwhiri to kick off the opening ceremony, a day resplendent with shared kai, performers from the local community, games, and music. Image credit: Auckland Libraries

A collective dream ten years in the making, Te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini is a reo-rua (bilingual) community hub, a library, and a home away from home nestled in the emergent South Auckland community named for Ihaka Takaanini, paramount chief of Te Ākitai Waiohua. The Hub was officially opened on 27th March 2021 by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, Papakura Local Board Chair Brent Catchpole and Te Ākitai Waiouhua representative Kathleen Wilson. 
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Conceptualizing the hub was a community effort supported by a kaupapa Māori co-design process called ‘Te Kākano – Creating whānau centred spaces. Kōrero with iwi, whānau Māori and Takaanini communities took place on marae, in shopping centres, libraries, schools and anywhere people wanted to connect. Architects (Pacific Environments), staff from across Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Council), teachers, community leaders and the Papakura Local Board came together to determine how the facility needed to look and feel.
Whānau helped identify some clear directives, they needed the Hub to be “A place where I belong”, “A place where I am valued” and “A place underpinned with Tikanga Māori”. This was particularly important for the Takaanini community, which has the highest number of Māori per capita in Auckland, at more than 28%. These directives became the foundation for creating the new service.
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The built environment embraces community aspiration through design. Our fully functional whare kai is the heart of our facility, a kitchen which provides a platform for whānau to connect with each other over a cup of tea and gives kaimahi the opportunity to move beyond transactional interactions with customers into the relational vā. In our rūma mātua (parenting room) parents can care for their tamariki in whatever way suits them. Our wāhi tamariki is where children can engage in active play, inviting noise and movement into the library space. There is no workroom for kaimahi (staff) at te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini. They share the open space with whānau and users, holding meetings, planning, and training where the community can give feedback in real time, allowing for open dialogue and input at every step of the process.
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Takaanini whānau browsing and socializing in the whare pukapuka.

 

Takaanini whānau browsing and socializing in the whare pukapuka.

Kaimahi for Te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini were recruited with new ways of working in mind. A group process rooted in tikanga Māori saw multi-disciplinary candidates come together, providing opportunities to interact in community rather than being assessed in isolation. Bespoke position descriptions were created to embed indigenous work practices, with a Poutiaki Tātou (Participation and Practice Lead) and Pouākina Angitū (Social Impact Lead) appointed to guide the team through the phases of Atu (outward energy) and Mai (inward energy).

 

​Team culture is rooted in indigenous knowledge, with a values-based approach to service delivery. Hononga (connection), hūmārie (peace and gentility), atawhai (kindness), utu (reciprocity) and whakaute (respect) are some of our guiding principles. In practice, this means team members are empowered to make values-based decisions with our communities’ best interests in mind.

 

Te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini as viewed from the road. Image credit: Auckland Libraries

 

​Te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini is the Auckland Council’s first reo-rua facility, a space where Te Reo Māori is seen, heard, and spoken. Kaimahi came aboard with varying levels of skill in Te Reo Māori, but uniformity in their willingness to embrace a new language. With twelve languages already spoken fluently among nine staff, we understand the significance of using the right Reo to foster connections with whānau.​In the six months that our doors have been open to the public, rāhui (lockdown) notwithstanding, we have served more than 59,000 visitors engaging with our services, participating in programmes, and sharing stories. More than 1000 new whānau have signed up for library cards, increasing their ability to access resources and support. Our hapori (community) have enjoyed more than 21 kilos of milo and shared more than 2000 cups of tea while in our whare. We measure our impact over these 2000 exchanges with Takaanini whānau, beyond hot drinks, these are moments of connection and kōrero shared across the table, opportunities for relationship, and steps toward making Te Paataka Koorero o Takaanini a new place to call home.

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