Our values

A number of hui were held across Aotearoa to find out what people thought would be seen and heard in strong thriving whānau. E Tū Whānau distilled this kōrero into six values: aroha, whanaungatanga, whakapapa, mana manaaki, kōrero awhi and tikanga.

These underpinning values are part of who we are and what makes us strong as Māori. They kept our whānau safe in the past and have the power to do so again. They are protective factors for Māori. Together they create the ‘rope of life’ that joins whānau together and strengthens them. 

Tauawhitia ai koe.
Wrap your whānau in your loving and protective embrace.

Aroha
Giving with no expectation of return

Whanaungatanga
It’s about being connected

Whakapapa
Knowing who you are and where you belong

Mana manaaki
Building the mana of others through nurturing, growing and challenging

Kōrero awhi
Positive communication and actions

Tikanga
Doing things the right way, according to our values

This depicts the E Tū Whānau values using a DNA helix, which runs up the centre of the image. Titled "the Rope of Life - Six E Tū Whānau values that bind us together, it presents each of the values in turn along the length of the DNA strand.
‘The rope of life’ represents a DNA helix to demonstrate that the values of E Tū Whānau are handed down from the ancestors. They are strengthened by each generation, to be passed to future generations.

Click the image above, or download it here.

View resources that can be downloaded, including some based on the six E Tū Whānau values.

Read stories about what whānau and communities around the motu are doing to express the E Tū Whānau values.