Matariki marks the start of the Māori New Year, a time which invites us to reflect on the past year and look to the year ahead.
The day before the national public holiday, a milestone was celebrated in the work towards a Māori Mental Health and Addiction Service in Te Awakairangi: the concept paper was handed over to Tricia Keelan, the Regional Wayfinder for Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, Te Ikaroa (Central Region). This marks a big step forward in taking the service from design to reality.
The model, its whakapapa and timeline were presented by Project Manager De’arna Sculley and the kaitiaki rōpū at a Matariki celebration.
The rōpū has guided this work, and its members were acknowledged for their commitment to the kaupapa and bringing the community voice to healthcare. Kaumatua then led a beautiful karakia before the taonga – the community work to date - was gifted to Tricia in a kete.
This taonga represents the aroha of 150 members of the Te Awakairangi community that attended wānanga at Matariki one year ago, the voices of kaitiaki rōpū on behalf of Te Awakairangi community, and the hard work that took place to produce this document.
Following the handover, vegetable soup was shared for Matariki lunch and the lifting of the tapu was felt with laughter, connection and warmth. /kaitiaki-ropu.jpg)
Photo L-R, back row: Pete Carter (Central Region Commissioning Manager), Tokai Nohotima (Kaumatua, Te Kakano o te Aroha marae), Louise Windleborn (mana whenua, Lived Experience Advisor), Pita Flynn (Māori Health Therapist - acupuncture), Patsy Moeahu (mana whenua, Social Worker), Linda Olsen (Kaumatua, Wainuiomata Marae; mana whenua), Miriam Coffey (mana whenua, MHAIDS Kaimahi Māori), Tricia Keelan (Regional Wayfinder, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora), Jeremy Tumoana (Manager, Te PaePae Arahi). Front row: Tammy Kaiwai (Project Team, MHAIDS), Molly Kino (Kaumatua, Te Kakano o te Aroha Marae), De'arna Sculley (Project Manager, MHAIDS), Christine Neumann (Project Team, MHAIDS).
Cover photo: Photo: Molly Kino (Kaumatua, Te Kakano o te Aroha Marae) presents a kete to Tricia Keelan (Regional Wayfinder, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora)
