Manawanui : illuminating contemporary meanings of culturally effective social work supervision practice in Te Taitokerau, Northland

Abstract

This thesis is a cultural journey of interconnectivity between Te Ao Māori and social work supervision. Its main focus is to honour and validate tupuna or ancestral knowledge from Te Ao Māori and the pivotal role this plays in influencing social work supervision practice for Māori social workers and social workers who work alongside Māori clients. As such this thesis actively decolonises social work supervision by making available Te Ao Māori conceptual frameworks within which this thesis is situated. Through exploring Te Ao Māori frameworks, from the continual stream of Māori knowledge and the literature of Māori scholarship, foundational concepts for social work supervision practice are revealed.

The embedding of Kaupapa Māori research principles and ethics means that the methodology of this thesis provides a supportive shelter for consciousness raising, critical dialogue, reflection on practice and for oral cultural narrative and whakapapa to be honoured. Social work supervision theory and practice is discussed from diverse social work perspectives and in doing so challenges contemporary ‘norms’. This thesis contends that Te Ao Māori provides cultural pathways that unlock heightened holistic learning and support in supervision practice. For these reasons there is a proactive approach applied in this thesis to affirm Te Ao Māori in ways that develop social work supervision theory and practice to meet the cultural and professional goals and objectives of social workers in today’s world.