At the heart of this Learning Hub is The Papatūānuku Paradigm
The Paradigm is a taonga - something to be held with care, reflected on deeply and honestly, and carried into our work and communities. It has been developed through mātauranga Māori, research, kōrero, wānanga, critical reflection and collective learning.
The Papatūānuku Paradigm has been strengthened through the knowledge, experience and insights of those who have contributed to its development, review and testing - creating a framework that continues to grow through learning and practice.
The Papatūānuku Paradigm includes:
an analysis of existing research on women’s homelessness, with a particular focus on identifying key gaps in current knowledge
conceptual frameworks that underpin the tool, ensuring it is relevant to the lived experiences of women facing homelessness.
practical insights on how it can be used to better inform policies and practices that are culturally sensitive and effective in supporting women, particularly those from Māori communities.
Critical to The Papatūānuku Paradigm are:
The Orokohanga to Aotearoatanga horizon, from creation to nation building
Te Tiriti o Waitangi | The Treaty of Waitangi, taking a dual worldview approach
Highlighting the role of the Machinery of Government (MOG) as a vehicle of colonisation and making the MOG a central feature of the tool.
The Papatūānuku Paradigm locates policy analysis epistemologically, historically, structurally and institutionally before considering personal issues. That sequence matters - it enables us to identify the full range of determinants contributing to public policy outcomes.
Without such an approach, outcomes such as women's homelessness can too easily be examined through a deficit lens which ultimately holds individuals responsible for public policy outcomes created by the state.
We hear explanations about women experiencing homelessness, such as:
"She didn't save enough."
"She didn't work hard enough."
"She isn't very bright. She didn't do well at school."
Thinking like this absolves the state of its role in creating and perpetuating inequality. If we want different outcomes, we need to ask different questions.
The Papatūānuku Paradigm provides a framework for doing exactly that. At the heart of the framework are nine key questions, which are explored in The Papatūānuku Paradigm.
