Grandmother Jo's Story

In the first episode, we meet Jo Whiu, a grandmother to seven young mokopuna. Daughter Lisa is a recovering P addict and has recently moved back home.

By Lynda Chanwai-Earle

Winter's coming on, so the mattresses sprawl across the living room floor. When you've got seven mokopuna in a three bedroom house, that's the only way to make sure all the children can sleep inside.

At the Whiu "marae", summer means the three big kids can spread out in the garage. But on cold nights in Hawke's Bay, grandmother Jo Whiu says she wouldn't even let a dog sleep out there.

So they cram in together, a big whanau determined to make some big changes in their lives.

What does it take to bring up children on your own? How does a single parent be both mum and dad to their children? I wanted to hear how New Zealanders make it work these days. I'm a solo-parent myself so I know what it takes; but sometimes flying solo can be damn challenging.

Take for instance the night I woke to go to the bathroom, slipping on my polished wood staircase. I fell and broke my scapula, massive hematomas, impressive rainbow coloured bruises.

Not wanting to wake my two young kids, I waited until the morning to ask for help from a friend. It's times like those you wistfully think it'd be great to have another adult around. Then I heard about Hastings grandmother Jo Whiu.

Jo's bringing up seven grandchildren, aged from 10 months to 12 years. She's one of 9500 Kiwi grandparents who have found themselves responsible for raising their children's children. CYFS placed all the kids in Jo's care because her daughter, Lisa, is a recovering P addict. Lisa has recently moved back home, picking up the pieces.

Jo's family is one of just over 200,000 sole parent families in New Zealand, up four percent since 2006. Most of them have only one or two children, a far cry from Jo's busy home.

The three eldest call Jo "Mum", in a clear sign of who's brought them up. Peter, now 12, came to Jo first when he was two. Only one of Lisa's eight children, little Tui, lives elsewhere.

The night I meet 46 year-old Jo she's ripping up clean rags to create bandages for nine-year-old Reign's grazes. Reign tangled with a ball while playing out in the street; big grazes everywhere and a depleted first aid kit.

While Jo's mending, 29 year-old Lisa is cooking roast lamb and veges for the hungry kids. Money's tight but they have a productive vegetable garden…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details