WHERE THINGS SIT

1) Whanau structure is shifting (slowly, not evenly) - Reference attached

• Sole-parenting remains common; about 138k sole parents had dependent children at the 2023 Census. Men are still a minority, but growing—17.8% of sole parents were male (up from 15.8% in 2018). Stats NZ

• Household forms are diversifying, which changes how and where fathers “show up” (shared care, blended whanau, single-dad households). Stats NZ’s 2025 releases reinforce this diversification trend. Stats NZ+1

2) Violence and harm remain a heavy shadow—especially for Maori and Pacific whanau

• Te Aorerekura’s baseline shows family/sexual violence is common; some groups carry higher risk, including whānau Maori and disabled people.

• The second Action Plan (2025–2030) doubles down on coordinated, outcomes-based responses. preventfvsv.govt.nz+2Vine – Violence Information Aotearoa+2

• Health system briefings in 2024 emphasise FVSV as a public-health priority requiring cross-agency action (screening, referral pathways, data).

• Translation: community providers who can engage dads early are crucial. Ministry of Health NZ

3) Justice and imprisonment still skew male—by far

• As at Mar 2025, men made up the vast majority of people in prison (around 93%+).

• Maori remain significantly over-represented system-wide.

• For dads, prison → whanau separation, unstable income/housing on release, and complex Family Court dynamics. corrections.govt.nz+2corrections.govt.nz+2

4) Mental health and suicide: persistent gender gap, uneven progress

• NZ’s provisional suicide reports (latest annual release Oct 30, 2024) continue to show men disproportionately affected; Pacific and Māori communities prioritised in prevention efforts.

• Trend commentary underscores the need for culturally grounded, community-led responses. Le Va

• Broader health survey results (2023/24) show stable “good health” self-ratings overall, but that headline often hides men’s silent load (addiction, isolation, identity/spiritual injury). Ministry of Health NZ

5) Work, money, and time with pēpi: policy signals are mixed

• Paid Parental Leave rates rose again in 2024/2025, improving the primary-carer setting (which can be fathers).

• But the dedicated “partner’s leave” remains up to 2 weeks and unpaid—still a practical barrier to dad-time early on. MBIE+2The Beehive+2

What this means on the ground (patterns we see)

• Presence vs provision tension:

  Many dads want to be present, but face short, unpaid partner’s leave, shift work, or re-entry from justice settings. Without flexible pathways, “provider mode” crowds out fathering.

• Shame, isolation, identity:

  Men often arrive with survival strategies (your SCI lens fits), not “skills deficits.” Until shame is named and dignity restored, tools don’t stick.

• System navigation fatigue:

  Multiple agencies, inconsistent thresholds, and variable cultural safety burn men out—especially Maori and Pasifika who have the least trust in services.

• Turning points matter:

  Court orders, access suspensions, a new pepi, a crisis of faith, a funeral—these moments either entrench harm or open a door. Quick, mana-enhancing responses change trajectories.

Where FFF has leverage (and why funders should care)

1. Early father-engagement is prevention:

   Bringing dads into the circle earlier aligns with Te Aorerekura’s prevention aims and the health sector’s FVSV briefings—less harm, lower cost, better child outcomes. preventfvsv.govt.nz+1

2. Culturally anchored change works:

   Te Tiriti partnership, marae-based wānanga, and Pacific Vā reduce whakama and increase retention—exactly where mainstream services struggle. (This is the gap the strategy keeps pointing to.) preventfvsv.govt.nz+1

3. Re-entry and stability:

   With men making up nearly all of the prison population, father-centred post-release pathways (housing, work, whānau reconnection) are a public-good lever. corrections.govt.nz

4. Perinatal fathering window:
   Advocate for paid, dad-specific leave or employer flexibility; in the current settings, your alumni employer network can trial “dad days” to offset the unpaid partner’s leave gap. Employment New Zealand+1

5. Data that respects mana:

   Align your Apricot dashboards with Te Aorerekura outcomes (safety, connection, oranga) and justice/health touchpoints—so impact reads cleanly across agencies. preventfvsv.govt.nz

Practical moves (fit for FFF’s kaupapa)

• Te Tiriti Lens:

  Partner (not just consult) with mana whenua and Maori providers on each cohort: shared referral, co-facilitation, and joint closure plans.

• Whanau-first contact:

  Make the first 48–72 hrs after a court event or police call-out a guaranteed phone/kanohi ki te kanohi offer for dads—no forms, just a safe bridge.

• Father–pepi pipeline:

  Pair new/expecting dads with alumni mentors for the first 12 weeks post-birth; align with midwives/Well Child providers to normalise dad presence despite limited partner’s leave. Employment New Zealand

• Re-entry braid:

  For dads leaving prison: lock in housing + employment interviews + supervised contact planning before release; track reunification milestones against Te Aorerekura measures. corrections.govt.nz+1

• Spiritual care in the open:

  Keep scripture in plain view (e.g., James 1:19) alongside tikanga; funders increasingly accept faith-integrated models when they’re transparent, voluntary, and outcomes-tracked.

The Heart of It:

Men in Aotearoa aren’t short on love for their kids; they’re short on safe, mana-tending pathways that let them bring that love to the surface. Te Tiriti calls us to design with—not for—whanau. Biblical wisdom calls men to be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. Your kaupapa sits exactly in that overlap: restore dignity, set boundaries, and rebuild trust—father by father, home by home.