How financial wellbeing helps me show up for my whānau

Te Whare Tapa Whā is a Māori model of health that was developed by Māori health expert Sir Mason Durie in 1984. It outlines four dimensions of health and wellbeing: taha wairua (spiritual), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional), taha tinana (physical) and taha whānau (family and social). These pillars work together, and all can be influenced by our financial situation.  

This Te Wiki o te Reo Māori/Māori Language Week, we spoke to Barbara Reid in the Bay of Plenty about the dimension of Te Whare Tapa Whā that’s most impacted by money for her: taha whānau. 

Creating stability for my whānau 

Barbara grew up living pay cheque to pay cheque, with little understanding of money. As an adult, learning more about money has allowed her to create a sense of security for her children.  

“My money journey has been about creating stability for my whānau and raising my kids with healthier habits than I had,” she says. 

”Money can influence how I provide for them, the lessons I pass on about financial habits, and how present I can be without the stress of worrying about making ends meet. My goal has always been to give them a stronger foundation than what I experienced growing up, while still being able to give back to my community.” 

Part of this has been educating her children on money matters and sharing the lessons she and her husband have learned throughout their lives.  

Teaching my children good financial lessons 

“My whānau are my why in everything I do. Raising our kids with my husband has made financial literacy really important to us, because we want them to grow up with better habits than we had.  

“Our different upbringings gave us early lessons about how money can influence your choices, and those experiences continue to shape how we manage our finances today.” 

Financial wellbeing doesn’t just impact how Barbara shows up for her own children – it also affects her relationships with their wider family and community. “Money plays a part in how I show up for my whānau and community – from supporting my kids’ opportunities, to the volunteering work I do, and helping out family and friends.” 

Being there for others 

Part of Barbara’s money journey has been learning that relationships aren’t just about financial contribution, and that there are other non-financial ways you can show up to support your community. 

“When times are tough, it can be stressful, but keeping communication open and finding non-financial ways to give – like time, encouragement or skills – helps me stay connected,” she says. 

Showing up as my best self 

Barbara’s entire approach to life can be impacted by how in control she feels over her finances. 

“When money is tight, it brings stress and makes me more cautious with choices. That’s why being financially prepared and aware is so important to me, so we can ride out those tough times without losing sight of our goals. 

“When things are stable, I feel calmer, more confident, and able to invest in myself and my whānau.”