Early guidance, great outcomes

SPECIAL REPORT: Two prevention-focused and Police-backed initiatives - Big Brothers Big Sisters of Taranaki and Te Puna Trust - are creating lasting change for young people and families across the area. That's how we build safer communities for the future, says Senior Constable Paul Lampe, who has a leadership role in each.

Big Brothers Big Sisters was founded in the United States over a century ago and grown into one of the world’s most widely established and reputable mentoring programmes.

Each year, more than 900 young people across New Zealand aged between six and 18 benefit from the support of a screened and trained Big Brother or Big Sister - everyday community members who volunteer an hour a week to build meaningful, consistent friendships with one young person.

Since BBBS Taranaki Trust was established in 2006, nearly 600 mentoring relationships have been formed and professionally supported by a team of Mentoring Coordinators. There were 107 Matches in 2025.

The average Match in Taranaki lasts 1146 days, significantly exceeding the national average of 799 days.

Research shows that positive relationships between young people and mentors have a direct and measurable impact on lifetime outcomes.

Mentored youth are significantly less likely to use drugs, begin drinking alcohol or skip school.

Mentored boys are twice as likely to avoid negative behaviours such as bullying, fighting or lying. Mentored girls are four times less likely to bully or express anger.

The programme offers community and school-based mentoring, ensuring flexibility while maintaining professional oversight.

The foundation is a commitment of one hour per week for at least one year, with the goal of supporting the relationship until the young person turns 18.

Senior Constable Paul Lampe, Programme Director for BBBS Taranaki, has led the initiative since its inception.

“With nearly 600 Matches formed locally and an average relationship lasting over three years, we are seeing the long-term return on that commitment,” says Paul.

“After almost two decades we are watching our former mentees enter the workforce, become parents and contribute positively to our community. That is prevention in action.”

Every Match sees a young person gain a positive adult presence from a trusted person outside of their immediate family during their formative years.

One example is the enduring Match between mentor Kim and her Little Sister, Steph.

Kim was matched with Steph during her teenage years, at a time Steph needed guidance and stability. Weekly catch-ups evolved into a relationship that continues beyond the formal programme.

Steph reflects on the impact.

“Kim came into my life at a time I needed guidance navigating the struggles of life. She has been there through the ups and downs of my teenage years and now adulthood.

“She has seen me at some of my worst moments and also been there through some of my best.”

Kim supported Steph through significant challenges, including the loss of her mother. The relationship extended beyond activities and outings to deeper conversations about grief, responsibility and direction.

“Sixteen years on, we are so grateful to have her as part of our whānau,” Steph says.

“She is my Big Sister and my children’s Aunty. She has always opened her home up to us, including us in family adventures and being a safe space for my children and I to talk to, any time of the day or night.”

The Match strengthened Steph’s confidence, shaped her parenting and created a ripple effect into the next generation.

For Police, that kind of sustained relationship reduces isolation, builds resilience and strengthens protective networks around young people.

Paul Lampe with the Te Puna Trust Nurture Taranaki team.

Te Puna Trust focuses on the earliest and most influential stage of life, and developed Nurture Taranaki in response to clear evidence that the first years of life shape long-term outcomes.

Decades of neuroscience confirm that stable, responsive and nurturing relationships in early childhood promote healthy brain development.

The programme is offered to first-time mothers from 12 weeks antenatal where social and family circumstances may place the health and wellbeing of the baby at risk.

Referrals are received from a range of agencies, including midwives and local Police Family Harm teams.

The service is voluntary, free and home-based for up to five years. Trained kaiāwhina deliver structured parenting education focused on attachment, emotional regulation and child development.

A dedicated Dad Coach works with fathers, assisting with practical goals such as gaining driver licences, resolving court fines and accessing employment or training.

As Programme Director, Paul views Nurture Taranaki as a long-term investment in prevention.

“The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour,” he says. “Unless we focus on prevention rather than reaction, the negative social behaviours Police deal with will continue cycling through generations.

“By strengthening parenting in the first five years of a child’s life, we are significantly reducing the likelihood of those children coming to Police attention later.”

One of the earliest families engaged in the programme provides an example of success. The child, supported from infancy, was described on entering school as bright, calm and ready to learn.

Dad Tyler says the support over those years made a powerful difference.

“I appreciated the help accessing services I did not even know existed.

"The parenting information gave me confidence and reassurance that I was doing a good job after each visit from our Parent Coach.”

The outcome extends to a strengthened family unit with improved confidence, stability and understanding of child development.

“When we invest early and we stay consistent, we see the difference years later," says Paul. "That's how we build safer communities for the future.”