Health and Wellbeing
Murihiku Rūnaka are active in the area of Health and Wellbeing - providing the following services to the Murihiku community:
1. Awarua Whānau Services
2. Hokonui Rūnanga Health and Social Services Trust
3. Te Hau O Te Ora - The Wind of Life
Find out more about them below:
Awarua Whānau Services
Awarua Whānau services is a Kaupapa Māori service that has been operating since 1988.
February 2022: Awarua Whānau Services have created 20 new jobs through its vaccination and swabbing program. Pictured at the Newfield Tavern vaccination and Covid-19 testing station from left, Ella Williams-Teni, Registered Nurse Christine McLean, Vanessa Worthen, and Reha Salesa-Henry.
They are a sub-group of Te Rūnaka o Awarua, our overarching legal entity, and are one of the 18 Papatipu Rūnanga of Kaitahu.
As a Charitable Trust and a Non-Government Organisation, they offer services to the community, that are accessible to clients from all social and cultural groups within Murihiku, however they are primarily funded to work with Māori. Target groups are from conception to Kuia and Kaumatua (elderly). They offer a range of social, health, and early childhood education services.
The geographical area covered encompasses all of Southland.
Awarua Whānau services acknowledge and endorse a commitment to partnerships as expressed in the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and encourage participation and partnership in the decision making process. Awarua Whānau Services offer a Kaupapa Māori service that provides for Whānau well-being by servicing their:
- Social requirements
- Educational requirements
- Health requirements
Find out more the range of services on their website.
Read the Stuff article: Awarua Whānau creates 20 new healthcare jobs (5 February 2022)
Hokonui Rūnanga Health and Social Services
Hokonui Rūnanga and its Health and Social Services Trust is a unique organisation with a special purpose - to work with its members and the wider community for the benefit of all.
Te Rūnanga o Hokonui Kaitoko Matauranga Jo Brand.
This is consistent with the strategic vision and goals of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and He Oranga Pounamu who believe that all Māori must work together to develop healthy Māori communities in the Ngāi Tahu rohe.
The following whakatauaki (proverbs), clearly define their unity of purpose and intent:
Na tou rourou me toku rourou ka ora ai te iwi
With your food-basket and my food-basket the people will flourish
Me mahi tahi tatou
Let us work as one
Hokonui Rūnanga and its Health and Social Services Trust interprets ‘health’ in a holistic way – with the understanding that many factors influence health. Thus health (hauora) refers positively to a state of complete wellbeing - requiring the integration and co-ordination of social services linking together health, housing, employment, education, justice, and other wellbeing essentials in an organised and well planned way.
Although the Trust’s priority commitment is to Māori provider development, and the primary goal of its efforts is to maximise the wellbeing of all Māori in the Ngāi Tahu rohe, the Trust is in no way discriminatory. Its health and social services are available equitably for individuals and whānau from any ethnic or cultural background.
Find out more about the range of services on their website.
Read the Stuff article: Covid-19: Rūnanga preparing to support southern whānau (6 February 2022)
Te Hau O Te Ora - The Wind of Life
Hokonui Rūnanga, Awarua Rūnaka, and WellSouth, the primary health organisation for Southland (and Otago), have partnered to create a novel primary health service to target unenrolled patients in Invercargill, particularly unenrolled Māori and Pacific populations. The partnership was officially signed by Rūnaka and WellSouth representatives on Thursday 30 September 2021.
Making the partnership official - From left: Andrew Swanson-Dobbs (Ceo Wellsouth Primary Health Network); Terry Nicholas (Hokonui Rūnanga Health and Social Services Trust); Mata Cherrington (CEO Awarua Whānau Services). Photo: Amanda Webster.
Called Te Hau O Te Ora - The Wind of Life (Health and Wellbeing), the new primary health service will start to operate out of a purpose-built facility by March 2024. Located in the Invercargill CBD, Te Hau O Te Ora will help to address the shortage of primary health care in Murihiku, particularly for those who need it most.
A different model of care
Te Hau o Te Ora is based on a whānau-centred model of care, increasing access to primary care in the city, and has the potential to make a substantive difference to Māori health outcomes in the Southern region.
Initially, the focus will be on delivering primary care services similar to those delivered by general practice and mana whenua mandated Māori health providers. As a not for profit entity, Te Hau o Te Ora’s point of difference from the outset will be the ability for clinical teams to take the time they need with their patients and their whānau as profit driven booking models are not drivers of this model of care.
The partners of Te Hau o Te Ora intend the scope of service to expand to include enhanced primary care services and other community-based supports in the near future. The capacity and capability are in place to scale the programme and bring together primary care services, NGOs community health, and social services providers in one location – true integration.
Governed differently
Honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi’s principle of equal partnership and governance, the new services will have a clear focus on achieving Hauora with values and practices that serve the whole community. The partnership includes a renewed commitment to openness and transparency of operations and to developing new partnerships with Māori Investors, mana whenua mandated Māori health providers, and advisors.
Run differently
The new services will directly address the needs of the unenrolled particularly Māori Pacific and high needs population groups.
Services will embody Manaakitanga throughout the patient journey, including a holistic front of the house for primary care facilities and a focus on improved models of care in an urban environment such as adaptable services/hours.
It will provide a response for those that are unable to be enrolled at present and support a system that has limited capacity to enroll more patients at this time.
An example for other regions
This model of primary care delivery may be applicable in other localities throughout Aotearoa, and could be used as a pilot to inform and support its use with other locations.