Stand for Children Service

We stand together to bring hope to New Zealand’s most vulnerable children.

We nurture the dreams and aspirations of our nation’s children, allowing them to find their turangawaewae, ‘their place to stand’.

The journey of a child and family within the Stand For Children service unfolds in three stages. The stages are similar to the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. The Monarch butterfly is a chiefly butterfly in Te Ao Māori (the Māori world) and is called the Kākahu. Stand Tū Māia has chosen the Kākahu to represent and acknowledge the paramountcy of the child in our organisation.

The first stage of our journey involves gathering initial information though the process of Referral. This stage is called the Kākahu. This represents the process of Referral as being the beginning of the journey leading to transformation. The butterfly is also an international cultural symbol of transformation.

The second stage of the journey is the Assessment and Child and Family Planning process. This stage is called Anuhe. This represents the life of the caterpillar as the time to fill and nourish and gather resources for the journey forward. It is a time of gathering sustenance and being well prepared for the next stage of the journey.

The final stage of the journey is the delivery of the Child and Family Plan. This stage is called Tungoungou. This is the translation for chrysalis. This is the time to consolidate and strengthen the self and the wholeness of the self. It is a very awe inspiring time when natural magnificence is seen. It is a time of immense insight, strength and resiliency building. It is the stage before gliding and ascending on the journey that connects us to our future.

A WORLD STRONG WITH CHILDREN