Scaling a successful programme or initiative is generally thought of as consolidating or deepening of the initiative, by increasing intensity or volume in the current sites or extending its reach to new communities.
Decisions about scaling of programmes are often made by funders and implementers and not the proposed recipient communities. For Māori, this is problematic because it sees scaling as transactional, divorcing the programme from its creators and origins and assumes scaling is a finite process. Te koha (gifting) is a tapu (sacred) process. Giving something of significance to another reflects mana (respect), strengthening ties and relationships and carried reciprocal obligations.
Tūārai is a whānau-centred injury prevention model of practice, embedded in the notion of holistic, whānau wellbeing. It is being developed and tested by three iwi from the Tairāwhiti. One aspect of its development is to explore scaling Tūārai. Tūārai has developed a set of ‘scaling’ principles ‘Te Koha’ that are sourced from matauranga Māori and matauranga-ā-iwi Māori; ngā kaupapa tuku iho, inherited wisdom handed down from tupuna (ancestors). Tūārai is applying and refining Te Koha as their preferred approach for gifting or sharing their programme with other hāpori (communities) and hapū.
In this panel we will share the journey to date in developing Te Koha and the implications for evaluating programmes intending to scale or in the implementation process.
- Why a different approach to scaling, how did it come about?
- What are the initial set of scaling principles, what are the tikanga and matauranga Māori that underpin it?
- How is Te Koha being implemented?
- What are the considerations for evaluators, evaluation and programme funders?
All four members of the evaluation team, three with tribal links to the Tūārai tribes, will present on Te Koha.
