This design was developed at a series of wānanga over the last few months by an expert Kaitiaki Rōpu, which is made up of members from the former Expert and Governance Groups.
The third and final wānanga took place in March and saw the rōpu prioritise the immediate needs of the community, and focus on the essential factors that make this service different to those currently available.
Some bold and creative service design took place, grounded in Te Ao Māori:
“The service should be for whānau that struggle with their hinengaro (mental health and wellbeing), no matter what that looks like.” Quote from the community
“It starts in the home - do whānau have access to warmth, shelter, kai? And how does this effect their ability to maintain mental health wellness? This kind of practical support is intuitive for Māori, walking alongside whānau so that people can be resilient and thrive in their community.” De’arna Sculley
This thinking informed the community delivery model design, the foundation of the new service.
While this is a mental health and addiction service, it will have a broad scope, with a strong focus on service delivery based in the community and offering practical help with the social factors that affect people’s mental health and recovery.
A multi-stage delivery model focuses first on meeting the most immediate needs of the Te Awakairangi community, before moving into the next two years:
2024: Tuatahi. This first stage focuses on increasing the capacity of the current MHAIDS kaupapa Māori team with roles such as Kaumatua, peer support, youth speciality and social and support workers. They will work together in the same location, support the clinical teams, connect people back into their communities and bridge the gaps between organisations.
2025: Tuarua. The second stage focuses on the establishment of a physical space open door policy, like the ‘crisis cafe’ in MidCentral. It would offer all tāngata whaiora a safe space, warmth, shelter, kai and human connection, as well as meeting their practical needs by offering access to beds, showers and washing machines. This could also be a place of access for supporting organisations such as housing, counselling, employment and community services. Kaimahi on site would also offer support and connection with mental health and addiction.
2025-6: Tuatoru. The third stage builds on the first two, growing the kaimahi again to establish a physical Marae-based kaupapa Māori service in the Hutt Valley. Further prioritising and consolidating traditional practices, whakapapa, positive cultural identify, rōngoa and wairuatanga. Outreach teams will also be established in more remote areas with high need.
At each stage, there will be an increase in numbers of kaimahi, leadership roles, and community relationships.
With the design having been shared with the community at Waiwhetū Marae and at a Wainuiomata community meeting, and with the support of the MHAIDS teams and leadership, it will now be presented to Tricia Keelan, the Central Regional Wayfinder for Mentally Well commissioning.
The Expert Kaitiaki Rōpu is focused on developing further details of the service, and has now formed three smaller rōpū around three key areas:
Wairua. A beautiful rōpū of kaumatua and rōngoa specialty who represent mana whenua and local marae uphold the wairua (the spiritual side) of the service, essential to the success of this kaupapa, tikanga, kawa and safety.
