Kristal’s Story
Supporting Whānau, Strengthening Iwi
For Kristal, social work is a way to uplift her community. “My why is first and foremost my iwi. My people. Making them well within themselves so they can be better for their whānau.”
Kristal has spent 11 years at Te Pou Oranga o Whakatōhea, working with whānau to provide support where it’s needed most. She began with the HIPY program, helping parents gain confidence in their role as their child’s first teacher.
Over the years, she’s worked in mental health, as a health provider, and now as a kaiawhina, running a Mums and Bubs program that follows the needs of the māmā she supports, teaching practical life skills in line with maramataka (the Māori lunar calendar).
“I love doing the groundwork and working hands-on with whānau. You see them at their lowest, but you get to see them reach the light at the end of that tunnel.”
Above all, she sees her role as walking alongside whānau, not just supporting them from a distance.
Now, she’s taking the next step in her career – studying towards a Bachelor of Social Work. As a mother of five, balancing study, work, and placement won’t be easy, but Kristal draws inspiration from her mum, a Registered Social Worker who studied throughout her childhood. She’s also motivated by other women she’s worked with over the years, like Roko Melbourne and Dr. Peta Ruha, who have led the way in kaupapa Māori social work.
One of the aspects of her course she most enjoys is that it goes beyond traditional social work training. Alongside core papers, she’s also learning Reo, iwi, and hapū knowledge, so her education is deeply connected to her people. “Their way of teaching is kaupapa taku iho, bringing it back to us and feeding it out to our whānau.”
With support from the Eastern Bay Hauora & Health Workforce Development Fund, Kristal is standing side by side with whānau, strengthening the iwi one family at a time. If you’d like funding to help improve healthcare outcomes in your community, we encourage you to apply.