Pēpi Penapena (Cherish Babies) is a campaign to promote the gentle and respectful parenting ways of tūpuna Māori before the Europeans imposed their parenting ways on us. Our tūpuna had wonderful whānau values and protected their tamariki above all else. As a people, we need to remember this knowledge again.
Come on this journey with us. Get in touch if you want us to work together. Follow us if you want to learn more. Join our waka.
Pēpi Penapena is a whanau organisation. Started by a mother/daughter team and now continued by some cousins, we want to build happy and positive whānau through-out the country. With varied backgrounds, a whakapapa of success and a passion for this kaupapa, we can help you incorporate these parenting ways into your work and can help whānau learn these ways for their own pēpi and tamariki. Get in touch if you want to have a kōrero with us.
Inspired by my mother's work, I'm applying my years of product management, strategy and planning to this kaupapa. As a mother of three pēpi who I treasure and adore, I want to help other parents love their whānau and raise happy tamariki.
As Kaiārahi for the Faculty of Arts at the University of Auckland, Hirini leads innovative projects to embed Māori and Pacific values in teaching and the faculty. Dr Kaa has worked in the social services sector, for the Anglican Church, and for his iwi.
Helen dedicated the last 20 years of her life researching traditional Maori birthing and parenting practices. She co-founded Pēpi Penapena to continue to educate and inspire about the wonderful tikanga our tupuna practised.