A new purpose for whānau whare

A new purpose for whānau whare

When Carolynn Tipene learned of the new Manu Ora clinic opening at 219 Howick Road in Wairau, it brought back years of happy memories.

For Carolynn and her siblings, the building that houses the new Manu Ora clinic was called home for many years.

Jim and Violet Walker bought the building from Māori Affairs around 1959 and the whare was home to all nine of their children until 2016, when Violet sadly passed away.

“As a whānau we were sad to see the house go, but life must go on!” says Carolynn.

But when the whānau learned that the whare was to become a clinic providing culturally sensitive primary health care, it brought tears to their eyes. Carolynn believes her mum and dad would be so happy to learn of the whare’s new purpose.

As tamariki, the Walker’s were brought up to understand whānau ora and holistic wellbeing and Carolynn says that the whare is steeped in the values of te whare tapa whā (Māori holistic model of health).

The news of Manu Ora was an opportunity for the whānau to share their memories and Carolynn says it has brought them all much happiness.

She recalls the backyard was full of fruit trees and gardens that not only fed the whānau, but the whole neighbourhood. “Our father gardened by the moon and the flower garden was Mum’s domain. It wasn’t unusual for people to wander off the street for a closer look,” says Carolynn.

The harakeke still growing there was gifted by the whānau’s Papa, Kereama Keelan (Ngāti Porou), when his daughter Violet left her home in Tolaga Bay, as a young bride, and moved south with Jim. 

 Carolynn also remembers that the whare had an open-door policy; there was always kai and a bed available to anyone who might need one.

 Jim leased the paddock at the back of the property (now full of houses) where he kept sheep, chickens, pigs, and a horse at one stage.

 The whole neighbourhood of kids visited the house, where they created a BMX bike track (long before its time) and took bike frames from the dump and welded and built their own BMX and chopper bikes.

 On behalf of her entire whānau Carolynn would like to thank Te Piki Oranga and Manu Ora for bestowing hauora and mana once again to 219 Howick Road and says “you have brought a lot of joy to the whānau of Jim and Violet Walker.”

Mobile clinic helps whānau reach their potential

Mā Te huruhuru, Ka rere Te manu
Me Whakahoki mai te Mana ki te
Whanau, Hapū, Iwi, ara
Kia korowaitiaaku mokopuna ki te
Korowaitange hauora
Tihei Mauri ora!

A stunning tui with its vibrant green and blue feathers and distinctive white throat tuft, along with a whakataukī – which loosely translated means ‘adorn the bird with feathers so it can fly’ – features on one side of Te Piki Oranga’s new mobile clinic. The other side features a landscape image of whānau enjoying one of Te Tauihu’s beaches. Inside is comfortable and cosy, with a heat pump to warm the space in winter and cool it in summer, and cups of tea are on tap.

The purpose-built ‘mobile health clinic on wheels’ hit the road on June 11 and has already supported the hauora (wellbeing) of close to 600 local whānau members, after it was used as a base for two COVID-19 vaccination clinics at Whakatū Marae.

Te Piki Oranga’s Operations and Service Delivery Manager Lorraine Staunton says a successful funding application enabled the setup of a mobile immunisation clinic but it has already become a multi-purpose clinic, with additional potential uses continuing to evolve.

As well as being used as a vaccination ‘base station’, it provides a comfortable and private space for cervical screening, a first aid hub, health promotion centre at community events and is being fitted out with telehealth technology to ensure local whānau can access specialists across Aotearoa.

Lorraine, who joined Te Piki Oranga at the beginning of the year, set about defining the requirements for the custom-built clinic. The project team, which also includes Sonia Hepi-Treanor (Te Hā / Stop Smoking) and Rameka Te Rahui (Alcohol & Other Drugs Clinician), then commissioned Chris Dufeu at CJ Fabricators in Tahunanui to oversee the build. Lorraine says, ‘Chris really put his heart into the job; nothing was too much trouble.’

At first, the plan was to build the mobile clinic from scratch. Using chalk, they marked out the imagined size of the clinic on concrete. But, with supply chain delays for many building products to consider, it soon became apparent that it would be better to explore other options.

With Chris’ help, Te Piki Oranga was fortunate to find the perfect ‘shell’: a mobile room that had already been lined, had a door and a window, and electrical wiring in place. Adjustments were made and lights, benches, storage cupboards, a sink and a small fridge were installed.

‘This gave us a headstart of about five weeks,’ says Lorraine, ‘and we were able to start using the clinic in early June.’

Nelson Marlborough Health’s telehealth team is providing support to ensure Te Piki Oranga has access to the appropriate conferencing capabilities that will facilitate appointments with specialists in other areas of the region and country.

Lorraine says that, as a country, Aotearoa is not meeting many of the health targets for Māori but the new mobile clinic will support better health outcomes.

‘It has huge health promotion potential. We’ve also bought a gazebo that we can use alongside the clinic at community events.’

Watch out for the mobile clinic in towns across Te Tauihu in the coming months. And, it is likely to be used as a first aid hub in Whakatū for 2021 Te Mana Kuratahi, the national primary school kapa haka competition.  With kapa haka groups from around the country descending on Nelson for what's being described as ‘the biggest Māori event in the world’, Te Piki Oranga’s new mobile clinic could be there to support thousands of people.

Support for survivors of abuse through Te Piki Oranga

If you, or someone you know, have had an experience of abuse in care, Te Piki Oranga can now offer one-on-one support for people sharing their experiences with the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

Te Piki Oranga has put in place qualified and trained community champions who can help you through the often difficult journey of sharing your experiences and telling your story.

Rameka Te Rahui is one of the Te Piki Oranga community champions who can answer your call for support, while you go through the Inquiry process.

“We’re here to help anyone through that process – deciding whether and how to take part, navigating the process and getting the follow-up care you need.

“We understand that anyone telling their story is going to go through many emotions. Talking about it can bring up a lot of grief, anger, and fear. Sometimes the hardest thing is making the first move and picking up the phone.

“We can talk with you before you make that first call to the Inquiry, sit with you while you do it, or talk with you afterwards if you need that support, so you are not left hanging there alone.”

Rameka says that sometimes this can be the start for people seeking help and treatment.

“If you’ve been living with this for a long time, sharing your story with the Commission could be the start of a healing journey for you and your whānau. There is free counselling available, and for many people, this has made it possible for them to get treatment for ongoing trauma as a result of their experiences.”

If you have an experience you want to share, the best way to get started is to call us on 0800 ORANGA (672 642), and ask to speak to one of our community champions for the Royal Commission of Inquiry. We’ll then facilitate getting you the support you need.

The Inquiry is in the process of gathering information from survivors of abuse, so it can look into what happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in care.

The Commission wants to hear from everyone who has been affected, including:

·       Those who have been directly harmed

·       Those indirectly impacted by the abuse

·       Witnesses to abuse

·       Those advocating on behalf of another person including your own tamariki, rangatahi and tīpuna.

If the person who was abused has died, you can even share on their behalf, in memoriam.

Once the investigations are complete, the Inquiry will report to the Governor-General and make recommendations about how New Zealand can better care for its young people.

National Award for Māori health champion provides funding for new programme

National Award for Māori health champion provides funding for new programme

Paraire Huata Health and Wellbeing Award recipient Rameka Te Rahui is dedicating the $5,000 Award to a new wānanga to help young Māori to follow the right path in life, and is calling for sponsors to match the funding, so he can deliver a high impact programme that will change lives.

Rameka Te Rahui says he was delighted to receive the Te Rau Ora Paraire Huata Award in May this year, especially as the award will provide base funding to run a new wānanga targeting at-risk young Māori men.

The Te Rau Ora He Tohu Hiranga: Excellence and Innovation awards acknowledge and recognise excellence and innovation in the Māori health, mental health, addiction sectors.  Paraire Huata was best known for his focus on the health and social service sector, and for his commitment to Māori mental health and addiction services. Te Rau Ora is a national organisation dedicated to strengthening Māori Health.

“I want to acknowledge the honour of being the recipient of the Paraire Huata Award, it was a wonderful surprise and truly appreciated. A big thank you to the team at Te Rau Ora,” says Rameka.

Rameka has been in Nelson for two years, working in addiction services for Māori health and wellness organisation Te Piki Oranga. Prior to that, his career in Māori community wellbeing has spanned 39 years and included working in probation services, alongside the New Zealand Police, family violence and Children, Youth and Families Service, and most recently as a Team Leader delivering kaupapa services in the Bay of Plenty.

The Paraire Huata Award recognises contributions towards Māori health and wellbeing. The award is in the form of funds to facilitate local wānanga, to share and raise the standards of practice regarding Māori models of practice.

Rameka says the award holds special meaning for him because of his friendship with Paraire Hauta.

”Paraire Huata, of Ngati Kahungungu ki Heretaunga,  was a dear friend, colleague and teacher whom I had the privilege of working with under the kaupapa he co-developed, which was well known across Aotearoa, not only for his work with Māori but with the world’s indigenous people.’’

Rameka is currently facilitating the Kia Taumata Te Oranga Methamphetamine MatrixPprogramme –a successful addiction programme developed in the US and adapted for New Zealand. The programme launched in October 2019 and is already making strides in helping people break the cycle of drug use and addiction.

“We’ve found that people who stay with the learning and complete three or four blocks of the programme are able to make lasting changes in their lives. Many of our clients are self-referred or come through people who have successfully completed the course and are making real progress,” says Rameka.

Rameka is using the award money to facilitate a wānanga for 20 young Māori males (taiohi, rangatahi tamatāne,) aged 14 to 20 years old which will run in October this year and will be Marae-based within Te Tauihu. 

“We are hoping to target many of our local young tane who have fallen through the gaps and are likely to be an adult tane ‘Māori statistic’ within the next 3-8 years,” says Rameka. “Our aim is to try to break this cycle and to expose these young tāne to good role models and a variety of activities and opportunities that provide an alternative to a life of drug use, gang violence and crime.”

To support the programme, Rameka is calling for sponsorship from other agencies to help build a programme that will make a long-term difference to young men and their whānau.

“I am dedicating the Paraire Huata award as part of my role with Te Piki Oranga, and I challenge the appropriate services and community of Nelson, to either match or better this contribution.”

Building better health through Te Ao Māori

Te Piki Oranga is rolling out a pilot programme to help people take more control over their health and wellbeing through a better understanding of their cultural identity.

Te Ata Pūao has been developed in recognition of the low to medium anxiety levels people are experiencing following the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on jobs, security, families and mental health.

Programme facilitator Charles Clover says the course has been developed to support positive changes that will improve Māori health and wellbeing through a better understanding of Te Ao Māori.

“Through Te Ata Pūao, participants will develop an awareness of their whakapapa and answer questions about their culture and whānau, developing an understanding of how this can affect personal health and wellbeing.

“This is a chance for Māori to explore the complexity of their whakapapa, and look at how their thoughts and feelings affect their actions. We will show people how they can take more control of their own health and wellbeing and feel more at home in Te Ao Māori in a fun, supportive learning environment,” says Charles.

Te Ata Pūao programme will run once a week for 2.5 hours a week over six weeks, and will work through a bi-cultural health model to develop a health and wellbeing plan that participants can continue to develop once they have finished the course.

The course will be delivered in three parts, exploring culture and identity,  developing a holistic approach to your health and wellbeing, and working with professional support services to make long-term improvements to health and wellbeing.

Te Ata Pūao will be delivered for tāne, wāhine and whānau, at locations in Whakatū and Wairau. For more information contact Charles Clover by calling 0800 ORANGA (0800 672 642).

Everything is an opportunity, says new Te Pou Taki

Everything is an opportunity, says new Te Pou Taki

Carl Baker took over the role of Te Pou Taki (Māori cultural adviser) at Te Piki Oranga earlier this year and has spent the past four months undertaking a cultural assessment of Te Piki Oranga’s activities.

The Pou Taki position was advertised after Sonny Alesana moved to a new role as Kōtuitui Hapori (Community Connector). When Carl saw the position advertised, he jumped at the chance to relocate to Te Tauihu to take up the role and be closer to his whānau based in Whakatū.

In this role, Carl aims to support both kaimahi (employees) and whānau. He says the purpose of the cultural assessment he’s been undertaking is to ‘make sure our activities align with what we say we’re doing’. He is looking for ways to enhance how kaupapa Māori informs Te Piki Oranga’s strategic direction and to ensure tikanga Māori (Māori custom) is implemented accurately across the organisation, starting with the leadership team.

Following this, he has his sights set on a development plan for management and kaimahi. Then he will take a ‘deep dive’ with individuals, to support them to improve their cultural development.

‘I see everything as an opportunity,’ Carl explains. ‘I’m looking at how we can progress staff along the continuum of learning and interventions we can put in place to help that shift. For example, I’m aiming to increase staff members’ overall cultural capability which will ensure Te Piki Oranga continues to transform as a kaupapa Māori health and wellness organisation.’

His previous experience, as Pou Tairangahau (cultural manager) at the Department of Conservation in Hawkes Bay, has equipped him with transferrable skills that have given him a great head start in this role as Te Pou Taki.

Are you aged 15-30 years? Protect against measles

Are you aged 15-30 years? Protect against measles

Become a Guardian of the Future by getting immunised against measles. Not only will you be protecting yourself against a disease that’s about 8 times more contagious than COVID-19, you’ll also be protecting your whānau, your community, and future generations from harm. 

Measles is a serious disease that can make you very sick. Not everyone aged 15 to 30 years was immunised as a child. But it’s easy and free to get immunised now.

Protect the people you care about. Immunise to help stop the spread of measles. It’s free at GPs or participating pharmacies.

Not sure if you’re immunised against measles?  It’s okay to get immunised again.

Find more information on our MMR Vaccine page, which includes a “Your Quetions Answered” section.

Te Piki Oranga host first COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Te Āwhina Marae

Te Piki Oranga host first COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Te Āwhina Marae

Te Piki Oranga ran its first Māori-focused COVID-19 vaccination clinic in a marae setting in the Tasman region on Friday, 28th May. While the doors were open at Te Piki Oranga’s offices at Te Āwhina Marae, its nurses administered 53 doses to local kaumātua (elders) and their whānau.

With a successful track record in ensuring Māori over the age of 65, along with their whānau, receive the vaccine, Te Piki Oranga has now run one clinic at Te Āwhina marae, three clinics at Waikawa Marae in Marlborough and three clinics at Noho Pakari (kaumātua ‘sit and be fit class’) in Blenheim. These clinics have resulted in over 500 whānau in the Te Tauihu (Top of the South) region being vaccinated so far.  The next two clinics are at Whakatū Marae on 11 and 12 June.

Māori over the age of 65 are receiving priority access to the vaccine because they are more at risk of developing severe illness if they contract COVID-19. Because so many kaumātua live in intergenerational households, whānau members over the age of 16 are also eligible to be vaccinated at Te Piki Oranga’s clinics.

‘Te Āwhina Marae is an ideal venue,’ says Te Piki Oranga Covid Response Manager Claire McKenzie, ‘because it’s based in a very active community. It’s been an opportunity for community members to receive the vaccine from people they know and trust in a familiar environment, rather than in a clinical setting. We want whānau to feel really comfortable.’

McKenzie said a lot of Māori communities are unaware that the vaccine is free, so she wants to get the message out there that it does not cost to be vaccinated. Te Piki Oranga has seen, during clinics at Waikawa Marae, that confidence in the vaccine increases when kaumātua and their whānau see others being vaccinated; they need time to be reassured that adverse side effects are very unlikely.

‘It’s important for whānau to understand that they need to book in advance for the clinic if they wish to be vaccinated, and if they have any concerns about the vaccine, they are also welcome to call us and ask questions,’ said McKenzie. ‘There is a lot of misinformation out there and we can provide reliable advice.’

Across Aotearoa, a higher proportion of Māori, compared to the general population, are hesitant about having the vaccine. According to Horizon Research's March report for the Ministry of Health, approximately 21 per cent of Māori said they 'need to know more' before deciding whether to take the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. In the latest research, Māori have a similar intention to take a COVID-19 vaccine as they did in previous surveys (conducted in December and February), but the percentage of those who are unlikely to take a vaccine has dropped from a peak of 27 per cent in December to a below-average 18 per cent.

In recent weeks, Nelson Marlborough Health has run two very large clinics in Tasman, which has resulted in 970 doses being administered, so while this is not the first COVID vaccination clinic in Tasman, it was the first Māori-focused clinic on a marae.

The next clinic at Te Āwhina Marae is being held on Friday 18th June, from 10am. Kaumātua and their whānau are invited to book an appointment at this clinic by calling 0800 ORANGA (0800 672 642).

 Getting vaccinated at Te Āwhina Marae also means Te Piki Oranga can extend manaakitanga to its Māori community members, ensuring they are welcomed and supported.

Te Āwhina site manager Lydia Mains said she has been calling local whānau to let them know about the clinics and encourages them to bring their kaumātua to the marae, and to come along as well. ‘We’re saying, don’t put older people at risk. The clinic will be somewhere everyone can come to meet, talk and share. It’s not just a quick “in and out”.’

Mains and her fellow kaimahi are also offering support, if needed, with arranging transport to the marae.

If whānau have any pātai (questions) about the COVID-19 vaccine, they can contact Donna Grace at donna.grace@tpo.org.nz or on 027 4133 697.

Visit our COVID-19 pages for further information on Te Piki Oranga’s vaccine clinic roll out and where your nearest clinic is.

Māori Cancer Community Hui - Saturday 12th June, Ūkaipō

Hear the voice of Whānau Māori!

Ūkaipō, Rangitāne Cultural Centre, 1 Fell Street, Grovetown, Blenheim
Saturday 12th June 2021

Te Aho o Te Kahu is committed to working together with Māori Leaders, Stakeholders and Communities to improve outcomes!

Come have your say and help us design kaupapa Māori cancer solutions.

Kai, kōrero, kapa haka, mirimiri, rongoā, whānau workshops.

Registration: 8.30am | Mihi Whakatau: 9.10am | Poroporoaki: 3:30pm

RSVP with attendance & transport requirements.

Name: Te Hauora o Ngāti Rārua
Email: hauora@thonr.org
Phone: (03) 577-8404

Transport available from Nelson and Blenheim.

Get Vaccinated. COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics at Te Āwhina & Waikawa Maraes

Te Piki Oranga are running two COVID-19 vaccination clinics on Thursday 27th & Friday 28th May.

We invite kaumātua (65+), and whānau who live with them, to receive their free Pfizer at the following clinics:

Thursday 27th May

Waikawa Marae
Waikawa Road
Waitohi (Picton)

To book into this clinic please call our Wairau office on 03 578 5750 or email admin.wairau@tpo.org.nz

Friday 28th May

Te Piki Oranga Office
Te Āwhina Marae
133 Pah Street
Motueka

To book into this clinic please call our Motueka office on 03 528 1046 or email admin.motueka@tpo.org.nz

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL

PĀTAI/QUESTIONS

If you have any pātai, contact Donna Grace | E: donna.grace@tpo.org.nz | M: 027 4133 697

Come hear about the COVID-19 Vaccination programme from Hon. Peeni Henare

You are invited to a COVID-19 Vaccination Information Evening with Associate Minister of Health Hon. Peeni Henare and the Ministry of Health.

Wednesday 7th April 2021, 5pm-6pm

We look forward to hosting this important hui, so you can kōrero with Minister Hon. Peeni Henare and health officials in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Come to the United Bowling Club, 201 Waimea Road, Nelson.

Light refreshments will be provided

Nau mai, haere mai.

Are You Aged 15-30 Years? Protect Against Measles

Are You Aged 15-30 Years? Protect Against Measles

Become a Guardian of the Future by getting immunised against measles. Not only will you be protecting yourself against a disease that’s about 8 times more contagious than COVID-19, you’ll also be protecting your whānau, your community, and future generations from harm. 

Measles is a serious disease that can make you very sick. Not everyone aged 15 to 30 years was immunised as a child. But it’s easy and free to get immunised now.

Protect the people you care about. Immunise to help stop the spread of measles. It’s free at GPs or participating pharmacies.

Not sure if you’re immunised against measles?  It’s okay to get immunised again.

Find more information on our MMR Vaccine page, which includes a “Your Quetions Answered” section.

Driver’s licence the key to shearer’s future

When Te Piki Oranga Kōtuitui Hapori Sonny Alesano arrived at the Nelson Courthouse one day in December, he overheard a conversation. Twenty-four-year-old Jason West had been charged with driving without a licence. Sonny introduced himself, gave his business card to the rangatahi and let him know about Te Piki Oranga’s He Tangata driving programme.

Jason, who works all over the region as a sheep shearer, says, ‘It was such a relief off my shoulders; I was stressing out and didn’t know what to do. Sonny told me he could help me with my licence and I said, “Yep, done, I need that”. It was the good luck I needed.’

In the past, Jason had lost his licence for driving unaccompanied to work on a learner’s permit. He thought the waiting list meant it wasn’t possible to book in for his practical test. Then he was pulled over driving without a licence. ‘It was such a pain, I was stuck in a cycle, flat out. It’s also my hobby, I’m real passionate about cars. When I’m not working, I’m always underneath my car. So to have a car and not be able to drive was devastating.’

Jason passed his restricted driver’s licence test in early January 2021. ‘I’m so stoked, Emani is such a nice person. It’s great, now I don’t have to be worried about being pulled over.’

It also means he can keep his licence. ‘The judge said if I got my licence before the next court date, she wouldn’t take it off me. I still have to pay the fines, because I broke the law, but now I’m able to drive. She gave me the opportunity because there’s a real shortage of shearers in the country; a lot are stuck in Australia because of Covid-19.’

With work all over Te Tauihu, a driver’s licence is essential for Jason’s employment. There isn’t any public transport that will get him to where he needs to go and on time. ‘We start shearing at 7.30am, so wherever I’m coming from, I have to been there by then. And if there’s no work up here, I can now go down to Alexandra.’

Jason says he feels unstoppable now. ‘It’s a real boost in confidence.’

But he believes it wasn’t just his future at stake. ‘I could see that, if I passed, it would encourage the judge to give someone else the same opportunity. If I’d failed to get my licence, maybe she might not have been so lenient with other people in the same situation. I would have tried, regardless, but having the support really helped me mentally. It’s especially great to be able to talk to someone with more life experience, someone other than your parents.’

Jason looks forward to shearing for at least the next five years. Then, he says, he might become a barber, like his mum. ‘I’ll be going from animals to humans,’ he laughs.

Sonny says Jason’s story is not unique.

‘You turn up to court to support someone and you see how many youth are there, and we know there are processes other than the justice system,’ Sonny says. ‘We are looking at how we can support these rangatahi to ensure that court is not the only option for them. Helping them get their driver’s licence is just one. Emani Soane, one of our driving instructors, has done such great work with our young people.’

Sonny says he’s also been working with Pasifika communities, offering learner driver licence courses with Emani.

‘When English is their second language, it can be an additional barrier.We provide support because having a licence gives them more opportunities for other work,’ Sonny says.

Jason and Sonny

Covid-19 Vaccines: What you need to know

Aotearoa has received the first batch of a Covid-19 vaccine and has prepared roll-out plans for three different scenarios, depending on the level of community transmission.

If there is no/low community transmission, border and managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) workers will be vaccinated first. This is to reduce the risk of them getting Covid-19 and the roll out should be completed by the end of March.

Healthcare and essential workers, including Te Piki Oranga kaimahi, and those most at risk of severe illness will then be vaccinated in the second quarter of the year (from April to June). The general public vaccinations are expected to begin in the second half of 2021 (July onwards).

If there is widespread community transmission, those most at risk of severe illness—including older people, and Māori and Pasifika—will receive priority access to the vaccination.

This will be the largest immunisation programme our country has ever undertaken and a lot of work is going on behind the scenes with the Ministry of Health leading the roll out.

Te Piki Oranga’s Covid Response Manager Sarah Lee was employed last year to coordinate Te Piki Oranga’s response and coordinates Covid-19 recovery activity across Te Tauihu.

To make sure the correct information is in the community and online, she has prepared answers to some frequently asked questions about the Covid-19 vaccines to help you and your whānau make an informed decision when the vaccine becomes available. More information on the general vaccine roll out is due from the Coivd-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins on Wednesday 10 March.

Click here for more general information about Covid-19 and if you have any further questions about Covid-19 vaccines, please contact your local public health organisation (PHO).

Tūhono supports mothers of all ages

Our Tūhono programme has recently supported an older māmā, hapū (pregnant) with her seventh pēpi (baby), to give birth to a healthy girl, while also helping her keep her whare and support her other tamariki, as told by her Te Piki Oranga nurse.

Tūhono is an innovative Te Piki Oranga programme that provides kaupapa Māori intensive, personalised interventions for a small number of whānau, designed to develop and support the relationship between māmā (or matua) and pēpi.

One of our beautiful hapū māmā came to Tūhono not long after she discovered she was hapū with her seventh pēpi. Due to her age and the size of baby, she needed some extra support from the health system for the first time. 

Our Te Piki Oranga dietician Brittani was a huge advocate and support for her throughout this journey. A referral to Sonia at our Te Hā Aukati Kaipaipa Pēpi First program proved to be a success and our māmā managed to stop smoking during her pregnancy.

We were also able to provide this māmā with a new push chair and car seat through Tūhono, pay for her many and much needed growth scans and offer emotional support through some of the daunting decisions she had to make as an older māmā.

Tūhono also played a pivotal role in ensuring the whānau were able to keep their whare by organising and funding some vital property maintenance. During lockdown and school holidays we were able to assist with kai, and scrapbooking stationary for both māmā and her five young tamariki, as getting out and about was proving difficult.

The māmā gave birth to a beautiful, healthy girl naturally, using the wrap-around team’s support and encouragement to follow her intuition.

Nau mai e te pēpi ki te ao mārama.

Strength in unity and activity

Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei

Te Ropu Tane Kotahi Rau recently won the Stuff ‘Time to Shine Award’, one of six ASB Homegrown Heroes Awards. The ‘Time to Shine Award’ celebrates initiatives that have made a positive impact in the lives of a specific group in the community, in this case a group of tane living in Whakatū.

Underpinned by a te ao Māori approach, Te Ropu Tane Kotahi Rau kicked off in September 2019 and, since then, the men who participated have improved their physical fitness, quit or reduced smoking, made healthier food choices, lost weight and addressed other individual health needs. They’ve also strengthened their kotahitanga (togetherness), taha tinana (personal identity) and mana.

Back in the early days of the programme, the tane all weighed more than 100kg and had secondary health issues as a result, but other challenges facing them included homelessness, criminal records, addiction and poor mental health.

Equipped with a new pair of cross trainers and hoodie, the tane—who whakapapa to Ngā Puhi, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Koata, Ngāi Tahu and the Cook Islands—partipated in activities every Thursday for 16 weeks.

Each session started with a karakia and acknowledgement of Atua, to engage with their own wairua and support each other’s mana.

Te Piki Oranga and Te Waka Hauora Māori Mental Health provided awhi, and funding was obtained to pay for the exercise gear and kai for the men, with picnic lunches, BBQs or a Nikau House meal following each session.

During the 16 weeks, the tane explored Te Tauihu’s great outdoors, tackling tracks at the Centre of New Zealand, the Abel Tasman, the Grampians, Tahunanui Beach, Rabbit Island and Days Track, over the Tahunanui Hills. The men also used the outdoor gyms at Tahuna Beach, Saxton Park and Riverside Pool, along with mau rākau (traditional Māori weapons) to mix up the cardio sessions.

In November 2019, the tane successfully participated in the Nelson Half Marathon for the first time, then celebrated the end of the first year of Te Ropu Tane Kotahi Rau with a Te Piki Oranga health check, formal graduation and hangi at Victory Community Centre with whānau and friends.

A way to tautoko the waka

The programme’s success led to its extension into 2020, to offer continued support to the tane; a way to ‘tautoko the waka’ on which they were still travelling. Despite the challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, several tane participated in the Half Marathon again last November, beating their 2019 lap times, while others played in the 2020 Nelson Touch tournament or joined a Seido Karate club.

The whāinga (purpose) extended beyond the pursuit of whairoa (wellness) and it has proved successful in other ways.

‘Te Ropu Tane Kotahi Rau is built on the importance of kotahitanga and the belief that, on their own and as a collective, “mana motuhake” whānau can govern themselves to achieve positive outcomes,’ says John Harris. ‘It wasn’t just about hauora (health).’

For example, Te Ropu Tane Kotahi Rau supported one of the tane, Daniel Timms, to lead a successful campaign against the restructure of Nikau House. He hand-delivered a 4,500 signature-strong petition to then Nelson MP Nick Smith at Parliament House in July. As a result, the District Health Board announced in August that Nikau House would not only stay open, but that they planned to expand its resources and increase its accessibility.

Te Ropu Tane Kotahi Rau is a one-of-a-kind programme in Te Tauihu but wouldn’t have succeeded without the support of many other agencies and organisations including Nikau House, Nelson City Council, Devine Fitness, Saxton Field Sports Complex, Whakatū Marae, Fish and Loaves, The White House and many more who have contributed to the wellbeing of the tangata whaiora.

A similar programme for wāhine will start in October this year.

Smashing it at the 2019 Nelson Half Marathon

Reaching the top of the Centre of New Zealand

Winning the Stuff ‘Time to Shine Award’. Left to Right: John Harris (Te Piki Oranga), Ryan Edwards (Sports Tasman), Kahu Kumeroa (Te Ropu Tane Kotahi Rau).

It’s all about kōtuitui

After five years on the Te Piki Oranga management team as Te Pou Taki (Cultural Adviser), Sonny Alesana has a new role, as Kōtuitui Hapori (Community Connector).

‘We were already doing a lot of work with the community and had also been asked by other organisations to provide cultural advice on health,’ Sonny explains.  ‘In this role, it’s about Te Piki Oranga engaging with service providers to support families.’

He commenced the role in November 2020 and, since then, has been focusing on ensuring individuals and whānau can access Te Piki Oranga’s services with ease.

Being responsive

The Kōtuitui Hapori role was initially created in response to the pandemic, to help mitigate the negative social impacts of Covid-19 for whānau, but Sonny says it is about being  responsive and creative to find solutions for the needs of whānau.

‘Covid-19 has been difficult for some families but there have also been positives,’ says Sonny, ‘and I like to focus on the positives. There’s employment out there but now it’s about how we prepare our whānau for those employment opportunities. It’s also about preparing others who might have lost their jobs and working out how we can utilise their transferrable skills to ensure they can transfer into other industries and jobs.’

Supporting tamariki and rangatahi at school is another focus. ‘Covid-19 really identified that, for some of our families, they didn’t have the digital equipment they needed to support their children in their education or they had the equipment but didn’t know how to use it to access student portals. We had to be creative in the way we worked.’

Sonny adds, ‘Then you have families ring you to say their child’s at home and they’re not willing to go to work. It’s about looking at how we can provide services early to avoid bigger costs in the long run. Prevention is better than the cure.’

He also sits on a gateway panel with Oranga Tamariki to ensure whānau are getting the right support when their children are being returned from care.

Looking ahead, Sonny will be working with a team of five to six other community connectors in Te Tauihu. They are planning to meet in person soon to determine what services can be offered, ensuring they are not duplicating what is already available. 

Read about how Sonny connected with a local shearer, who with a new driver licence says he is ‘unstoppable.’

Sonny Alesana has a new role, as Te Piki Oranga’s Kōtuitui Hapori (Community Connector)

‘Shot Bro’ tackles depression

A repeat performance at Victory Boxing of Rob Mokaraka’s one-man theatrical show, ‘Shot Bro: Confessions of a Depressed Bullet’, left audience members feeling more informed about the impacts of depression.

A few months ago, Te Piki Oranga teamed up with Victory Boxing to bring the play back to its base in Whakatū Nelson, after it had premiered there several years earlier.

Inspired by Rob’s life story, ‘Shot Bro’ is the product of his nine-year journey of healing and self-discovery.

In 2009, the highly acclaimed actor and playwright experienced undiagnosed depression that resulted in him trying to commit ‘Suicide by Police’ (a suicide method in which an individual ‘deliberately’ behaves in a manner designed to provoke a ‘lethal response’ from law enforcement).

As well as performing, Rob also co-wrote and produced this extraordinary show.

Rob told the audience that he created the piece to communicate an ‘internal perspective on mental health and depression, in a safe way’ and, by doing so, he hoped to bring about social change regarding these topics.

Given the subject matter of his show, one would expect it to be a solemn and heavily dramatic piece yet, although there are elements of this, there were many heartful and hopeful moments resulting in both laughter and tears.

After the performance, Rob provided the opportunity for reflection, then invited audience members to give feedback.

The collaboration was an opportunity to further strengthen the relationship between Te Piki Oranga and Victory Boxing, given both organisations have developed a strong standing within the community when it comes to mental health and depression.

The show successfully inspired a shift in perspectives and more understanding about appropriate responses to depression and suicidal behaviour.

Calling in the dolphins to support mental health and wellbeing

Wild dolphins brought big smiles to the faces of tamariki and rangatahi towards the end of last year, during a special boat tour off the coast of Waitohi (Picton).

Te Piki Oranga’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Wairau arranged the special tour through local wildlife tour company E-Ko Tours, which provides the opportunity to encounter several species of dolphins including dusky, bottlenose, common, and the rarer hector’s dolphins, as well as orca.

Recent research shows that cetacean species (whales and dolphins) have achieved a level of social-emotional sophistication not achieved by other animals, including humans. In addition, the hypothesis of biophilia—which recognises that human beings need to commune with nature in order to thrive—and the success of other animal-assisted therapy approaches, inspired the initiative.

Mātauranga Māori provided a model for the journey; the children learnt about the relevance of whales and dolphins to Māori, their own whakapapa connection to the dolphins who guided their ancestors to the area, and increased their environmental awareness of, and knowledge about, ways to protect the whenua (land), moana (sea) and taonga (dolphins).

The Te Piki Oranga organising team, which included Paola Montarnaro, Karena Martin and John Hart, conducted ancient Hawaiian and Māori ceremonies to help prepare the children for their interaction with the dolphins. This included blowing the Pumoana (shell trumpet) to call them in.

‘The trip out to the dolphin sanctuary did not take long and, as the journey progressed, the group began to engage more fully with the kaupapa,’  says Karena.

When the pod arrived, they brought with them their babies, some as young as two days old. The dophins surrounded the boat and made direct eye contact with the children, responding to the group’s signals, sounds and waiata with joyful and social behaviour. Both the children and adults alike greeted them with delight. 

John Hart, Te Piki Oranga Pukenga Manaaki (Whānau Navigator), says, ‘The captain said that our efforts and calling our Tipuna Taniwha (water spirit ancestors) brought the dolphins in close and we enjoyed their company for a solid hour of laughs and excitement.’

Paola Montarnaro, Te Piki Oranga CAMHS Mental Health Clinician, adds: ‘The children were able to see and experience their social interaction from a very close distance and let the dolphins perform their healing magic. Once back on land, we could see smiles and a sense of peace and ease, even in the expression of the most reluctant participants. It was a very special and profound therapy session.’

Paola says CAMHS selected E-Ko Tours because they strive to be good kaitiaki (guardians), by using profits from their tours to fund conservation projects that contribute to the sustainability of both whenua and moana.

‘It was amazing to observe the positive changes brought about from the interaction with the dolphins,’ says Karena. ‘The trip back to Blenheim was filled with lively discussion about what had been seen and experienced.’

Mātauranga Māori provided a model for the day

Pumoana calls the dolphins

Here the dolphins come

Supporting rangatahi to get out of the youth justice system

Supporting rangatahi to get out of the youth justice system

Marissa Pou is passionate about her mahi with rangatahi (youth). As part of the HEEADSSS Assessment programme, the Te Piki Oranga Whakatū community nurse creates unique solutions for rangatahi and their whānau, to help get the rangatahi out of the youth justice system.

“Each rangatahi is their own person. They have different whānau dynamics and different reasons for why they are where they are at in their lives. This means my approach to each of them is different, it is not just a matter of ticking boxes, it is more holistic than that. Sometimes it also makes sense for the mother to be involved, and sometimes it is the aunty or kuia as well,” she says.

“As a trusted person from outside the whānau, I can uncover what is behind the rangatahi’s behaviour and provide solutions that work to stop that behaviour happening again. You can’t just say to a young person “stop hanging around bad influences and go back to school”, you need to work out the “why” – why they are not going to school and why they are choosing those people to hang out with. The answers might be because they can’t easily get to school, they are hungry, they are bored, or there could be a raft of health reasons. When you know the “why” and then know what they enjoy doing, you can help with the solution.”

Marissa says she works alongside the key whānau members on her suggested recommendations and next steps, so there is buy-in and no surprises. These recommendations are usually for both the rangatahi and the whānau.

“It may be the rangatahi that is referred to me by Oranga Tamariki, but my recommendations always cover support for both them and their whānau. It is important for rangatahi that their whānau, particuarly Mum, is in a good space. That’s when we really make the difference and stop the youth justice system being their norm.”

Marissa says recommendations could include seeing a counsellor, a psychologist or alcohol and drug services. Other recommendations could be to provide support for an educational programme or help with starting a career in something they are interested in, like music or woodworking.

“I love working with rangatahi. The mahi we do with them has the power to transform the trajectory of their lives.  That’s why I am so passionate about this area of work. My brother went to jail for 13 years when he was 17. I can see how that could have changed for him if we’d had a programme like this,” she says.

In June 2019, Te Piki Oranga began working with rangatahi through the HEEADSSS assessment process on behalf of Oranga Tamariki. HEEADSSS stands for Home, Education, Eating, Activities, Drugs and Alcohol, Suicide and Depression, Sexuality and Safety. Marissa has completed 15 assessments across a mix of male and female, Māori and Pakeha rangatahi between the ages of 11-17.