Matariki shines bright again

By Rachelle Tauroa – Mātanga Hangarau

Whaea Jane du Feu at Matariki 2024.

This year our Waimeha team hosted Matariki for kaimahi. We started the day at the Nelson Provincial Museum to immerse ourselves in the ‘Te Tuhi o te Whenua: Pakohe Unearthed’ exhibition.

Pakohe (or argillite) is a Ngāti Kuia and Te Tauihu taonga and this was the first time pakohe has been publicly celebrated locally. The exhibition was fascinating on many levels – from learning about the whakapapa of trading pakohe, to the artisans of taonga and seeing the taonga from across the motu in one place.

The cariation (colours) in the stone are amazing and seeing pakohe under the microscope – it almost looks alive! I loved the stunning, contemporary uses of pakohe in jewellery and sculptural art, such as an axe made entirely of pakohe.

After the exhibition the team headed to the Trafalgar Centre, by the awa Mahitahi (Maitai) for lunch. We were welcomed in with a karanga from whaea Jane du Feu with Gaynor Rikihana-Tākao responding followed by a waerea (a protection karakia). Then we had kai, presentations, performances and cake cutting.

At ‘Te Tuhi o te Whenua: Pakohe Unearthed’ exhibition.

Noho marae wānanga a time for kaimahi to reflect and learn

By Rachelle Tauroa – Mātanga Hangarau (Technical Support & Comms Specialist)

Kaimahi had two valuable development opportunities recently, where ariki (teachers) and ākonga (students) shared kōrero and experiences.

A deep dive into big topics

Two ‘nation building’ wānanga were held in August for kaimahi, at the Headingly Centre in Whakatū (Nelson) and at Waikawa Marae in Waitohi (Picton).

Te Ururoa Flavell (right) was compelling in his kōrero

These were noho marae-style, where we stayed together for a two-day immersion in the wānanga delivered by Te Ururoa Flavell and Hone Hurihanganui.

The focus was on Te Tiriti o Waitangi vs the Treaty of Waitangi and on the impacts of colonisation and racism. What I got from this wānanga was a deeper understanding and insight into how things played out from the day Captain Cook arrived to now, and how that has shaped so much of where we are as Māori today.

It was two full-on days with a lot to unpack, and gave lots of food for thought on what the next steps might look like and what can I do.

One of my key learnings was that you can’t do it alone – take others along on your journey. It’s about education and understanding and if we can do that in a clear but respectful way then we are heading in the right direction. Doing nothing is not an option.

Kaimahi engaged in intense listening, discussion and activities to bring learning to life.

Hard mahi making a difference for Te Ata Pūao whānau

By Karipa Akuhata, Alcohol and other Drugs Clinician, Te Ata Pūao

A service for whānau experiencing mild to moderate mental health and /or addictions needs, Te Ata Pūao is making many positive differences to people’s lives.

The past few months have been productive for both kaimahi and whānau in this service, and we have opened a second Te Ata Pūao group.

One activity enjoyed by all was a wānanga to teach the tikanga and karakia for harvesting harakeke and raranga (weaving). Te Ata Pūao embraced the whānau principles of harakeke where the rito (baby) leaf needs the mātua (parent) leaves. This is why we only harvest the tupuna leaves (outer leaves) to protect the harakeke whānau.

In raranga, Te Ata Pūao engaged in the therapy of weaving wrist bands. The attention to detail and patience required for weaving reiterated the care required to ensure whānau wellbeing.

Another activity for Te Ata Pūao whānau was the Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua o Aotearoa (nationals). Whānau described this as an emotional experience, to see our culture expressed on stage by our rangatahi.

We visited an exhibition of pakohe at Nelson Provincial Museum – toi Māori (Māori arts) connecting whānau to our culture and resonating with therapy. And on a sunny Nelson winter’s day, a group went to Te Taero a Kereopa (Nelson Boulder Bank), learning pūrākau from the haukāinga.

Whānau often find ways to grow with Te Ata Pūao. Some have requested referrals for te reo Māori courses, and others for counselling and toi Māori wānanga.

Te Ata Pūao kaimahi at Matariki celebrations. From left, Alaine Huata, Sonny Alesana, Lauren Sainty, Bruce Buckley Akuhata, Rachelle Tauroa, Tuku Reihana, Tere Taukamo, Karipa Akuhata.

Inspirational whānau stories

Whānau stories about their wellness journey with Te Ata Pūao are a glimpse into this life-changing service. The stories on this page have been shared with Te Ata Pūao kaimahi and retold here by Tere Taukamo.

One tane is working part-time on a fishing boat enjoying the energy of Tangaroa. He has become more confident in his own abilities, all the while not so afraid of his inabilities and able to ask for support when feelings of inability become apparent.

With a history of homelessness for several years, this tane has been accepted into the Blenheim Housing First Programme and for the first time feels hope about being a productive and acceptable member of society. He has passed a six-month milestone of total abstinence from all mind and mood-altering substances.

This tane has become confident in his Māoritanga and has learned karakia for specific rituals (and is still learning). On occasion he has filled the paepae when doing smaller pōwhiri / mihi whakatau. His mind has become more focused on wellness and his body is aimed at hauora through the gym, pools and mahi rākau – mau rākau and mahi for pūtea and for mahi aroha, volunteering with our kuia and koroua at Noho Pakari.

Another tane has returned to his tribal area and resumed his job as a independent courier driver. He reports that Te Ata Pūao groupwork has been significant in showing him “possibilities”.

This tane reports that the time, support and teachings caused him to realise that getting back into his life was possible. He had the foresight to ask if he could postpone his discharge from Te Ata Pūao for a couple of weeks in case he needed extra support. He was ready to leave soon after and has been discharged.

One wahine has pursued te reo and mau rākau as a passion and a future. She and her children are doing well, and she feels like she has achieved her goals as a single mum and found her niche in life with something worthwhile to nurture, teach and grow her children.

This wahine and her 12-year-old son have been attending a community mau rākau group (at Pou Rua level). She and her 13-year-old son have been put forward for grading through Te Whare Tū Taua in the near future.

This is a huge achievement, and she will be among the first females to achieve Pou Tahi status in the Wairau area trained through Te Whare Tū Taua if successful in the grading.

Warmer beds and healthier homes

By Khylee Baker – Kaituitui (co-ordinator) for Whare Ora / Healthy Homes

In September we celebrated the first year of the Whare Ora / Healthy Homes programme.

In our first month of home assessments, we found inadequate bedding in most households. Some families didn’t have enough blankets. And so many blankets were mink, which is hard to wash and dry during cold weather.

I soon realised that the funding I had for winter bedding was not going to stretch far enough. So the task became to find new bedding, and lots of it!

I reached out to the industry, asking at first for heavily discounted products, before realising I’d have to ‘ask big’ for free items instead. Around the same time I contacted other providers of the Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI) in Te Waipounamu and in Whanganui-a-Tara. This proved a good way to make stronger connections and share my challenges.

We quickly achieved a good result! Linen House offered a batch of duvet covers that had been recalled due to minor defects. But we had to pick up the whole batch – 26 pallets’ worth! Forty-seven cubic meters, weighing 5,000kg. And we had to pick it up within three weeks!

All HHI providers leapt into action. Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi organised storage in Christchurch, and Aukaha Dunedin negotiated shipping.

 Te Piki Oranga paid the shipping invoice and together we hauled, recorded and distributed more than 1,900 packs of winter duvet covers with matching pillowcases – a total retail value of almost $420,000.

Most were large sizes, so we sent the Californian King-size covers to the Christchurch Women’s Prison workshop for repurposing into single-bed covers.

As a result, almost 1,000 packs have been given to whānau through the HHI providers in their rohe. For Te Piki Oranga the greatest impact of this mahi has been reaching the unreachable.

We can now provide bedding to whānau during home assessments, without hesitation. We’ve used the bedding as raffle prizes at Mana Wāhine events, as goods to exchange for vouchers at stores, and as koha for iwi events.

One whānau who received bedding linked us to all kōhanga of Te Tauihu. Through that network we completed Whare Ora workshops with three kōhanga and have two more booked in. All whānau attending are registering for help with their cold homes.

There’s much more to say about Whare Ora, but this is one of our greatest successes. Mauri Ora!

The healing power of hōiho

By Trina Toma – Pūkenga Manaaki (Whānau Navigator) for CAMHS

Earlier this year, one of the tamariki working alongside Trina in Te Piki Oranga CAMHS (Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services) team attended a ‘Being with Horses’ equine therapy course.

Here is her pakiwaitara:

Torin learning horsemanship skills with Poppy.

Ko Torin Lum, nō Ngāti Tūwharetoa ia e whitu ana tau (aged seven years old).

Torin attended Being with Horses, a form of therapy developed by Julie Smith. Julie is a social worker and equine therapist who uses the hōiho as a therapy tool.

Torin was very comfortable in the presence of the hōiho right from the first time he met Poppy, the head mare of Julie’s therapy horse herd.

When they met, Poppy instinctively knew that Torin was needing some extra manaaki and aroha due to the sudden changes in his whānau unit. You can see in the photo how she is draping her head around Torin to give him a big awhi.

Torin listened and followed the instructions from Julie confidently. He learnt how to care for the hōiho, to groom them and how to read their body language so he could identify what the hōiho were wanting or feeling.

Torin learning horsemanship skills with Poppy.

Torin also identified when he needed to manage his own kare ā roto (emotions) from how the hōiho were reacting to him. He was able to reassure the hōiho with his kōrero and tone of voice. This interaction also created a space for Torin to relate his own kare ā roto with that of the hōiho.

Torin worked with another hōiho, a minature pony called Alfie. Torin created an obstacle course and learnt how to lead Alfie through it. The pony was a bit nervous about going through the course but Torin guided him with his positive kōrero and manaaki that Alfie needed.

Torin was proud of the skills he had learnt and the connection he had made with the hōiho, proudly showing these to his mum.

This form of therapy has allowed Torin to reconnect, regain his mana and heal with the hōiho. The hōiho are now a connection to his whakapapa.

Ānei te whakataukī Kaua e wareware ko wai koe, kia a kaha koe ki tō whakapapa.

 Remember who you are, your strength is your genealogy.

Leading Alfie through an obstacle course.

Trina’s pepeha

Trina’s whānau: From right, Tiana, Kaylie, Trina and Lance Toma (hoa tāne). Trina says, “I could not bring the taonga in my mahi to our Pā Harakeke without my whānau. Tāku whānau, tōku manawa, tōku pounamu (my whānau, my heart, my treasure).”

E ngā kaumātua, e ngā whatukura, e ngā mareikura tēnā koutou katoa i te wāhanga o kōanga,

Kei Pā Harakeke i tēnei ao hurihuri tēnā koutou katoa,

Ka tū mai te ātua ko Rongo mā Tāne, nau mai a Hine Raumati.

I te taha o tōku māmā

Ko Ngātokimatawha tōku waka

Ko Tapapa tōku awa

Ko Hokianga ā Kupe tōku moana

Ko Mangamuka tōku marae

Ko Ngāpuhi tōku whare tūpuna

Ko Ngāpuhi tōku iwi

Ko Kohatutaka, Te Uri Mahoe ōku hapū

I te taha o tōku pāpā

Kei te rere te toto nō Ingarangi Nui nō Pāniora ki tōku tinana

Ko Lance Toma tōku hoa tāne

Ko Tiana rāua ko Kaylie ā māua tamahine

Ko Trina Toma tōku ingoa

He Pūkenga Manaaki ki hinengāro hauora ki Pā Harakeke tāku mahi ki te tari ki Motueka.

E ki ana te whakataukī ko tōu reo, ko tōku reo te tuakiri tangata, tīhei uriuri, tīhei nakonako.

Your voice and my voice are expressions of identity. May our descendants live on and our hopes be fulfilled.

Nō reira ki ngā hāpori ki ngā kōhanga tēnā koutou katoa.

‘Te hā is a taonga’ – a message that resonates with rangatahi

By Melissa Nally, Pūkenga Manaaki, Te Hā Aukati Kaipaipa

Ko Tapuae-o-Uenuku te maunga

Ko Awatere te awa

Nō Airani ōku tipuna, no Tenemāka hoki

I whanau mai au ki Wairau, engari i tipu ake au ki Te Murihiku

Ko Melissa Nally ahau

Me aro ki te hā o te tangata (be aware of those around you and the air they breathe)

 Melissa Nally is a Pūkenga Manaaki with Te Hā smokefree service.

On 14 August she joined her peers from regional smokefree and youth services to host a special event for rangatahi in the Wairau rohe.

Melissa gave a kōrero on vaping, based on mātauranga Māori. She encouraged rangatahi to think about the effects of vaping on people and the taio (environment) and to take a Te Ao Māori point of view where te hā (breathing) is a precious taonga.

Here is her pūrākau:

Te Piki Oranga, Sport Tasman and Te Whatu Ora kaimahi collaborated to present ‘Tihei mauri ora’ – a vapefree education day for rangatahi, held at Te Pā Wānanga (Omaka Marae).

Attended by about 20 rangatahi, the kaupapa of the event was to reaffirm te hā (the breath) as a taonga and to support young people to make informed decisions about vaping.

The 2023 ASH Year 10 Snapshot Survey shows that while Māori youth smoking rates have decreased in the past three years, the daily vaping rates of Māori youth have dramatically increased.

While vapes are a tool to help quit smoking, they are not always used in this way – especially by young people who are more likely to start vaping, rather than smoking. But just like tobacco cigarettes, vaping products (vape juice) can contain high levels of nicotine. Nicotine is addictive and rangatahi can quickly form a hard-to-break vaping habit.

To guide the reaffirmation of te hā as a taonga, we centred our kōrero with Tihei Maura Ora participants around Te Whare Tapa Whā model.

Te Whare Tapa Whā explores ways to protect and care for our tinana through:

• understanding te hā as a taonga

• protecting and looking after yourself and your whānau by making informed decisions

• being aware of the influence of the environments we live in on our choices (eg, how vaping advertising targets young people)

• the environmental impact of vapes on te taiao (whenua, awa and moana)

• making and following life aspirations and standing strong in one’s identity (taha wairua).

Te Whare Tapa Whā was developed by Māori health advocate Tā (Sir) Mason Durie in 1984. The model describes health and wellbeing as a wharenui/meeting house with four walls.

These messages were shared through a video featuring Kahu Treacher, a young, inspirational basketball player and vapefree advocate.

We made Tihei Maura Ora engaging and hands-on; for example, by giving participants a box containing three months’ worth of used vapes to help them realise the financial and environmental cost.

Another fun and effective example was the use of a squeaky duck toy to draw attention to important information. Nicotine was compared to a squeaky duck and, when the kōrero focussed on the detrimental effects of nicotine on young people’s brain development, we made the duck squeak loudly.

The day ended with a Q&A session; all participants exchanged their answers for a Smokefree-branded bouncy ball which we then took outside for some very competitive games of hand ball.

Te Piki Oranga, Sport Tasman and Te Whatu Ora kaimahi received good feedback about the day. One person said they “really felt the mauri in the room when you guys were speaking with the tamariki”.

Our awesome Tihei Maura Ora participants with kaimahi Kat Jones, Reuben Molnar and Tāne Anderson from Sport Tasman, and Melissa Nally from Te Piki Oranga.

Right: Tāne Anderson and David ‘Chook’ Norgate from Sport Tasman and Reuben Molnar from Te Whatu Ora learnt a few new tricks with bouncy balls from rangatahi.

Heartwarming happenings for te tari o Wairau

By Melissa Nally – Pūkenga Manaaki, Te Hā Aukati Kaipaipa

The Wairau celebration for our anniversary was a heartwarming occasion bringing together kaimahi (old and new) and people in the community we have worked alongside over the years.

Kaimahi who have been here since the beginning

(Flo Joyce, Karena Martin, Mares Martin) spoke to their experiences. Te Piki Oranga started as ‘bare bones’ at Nelson Street before moving to the second floor of the Wairau community health hub where we have continued to grow – both in numbers of kaimahi and in the services provided.

Ricky Carr, Pūkenga Kaiwhakahaere Wairau, spoke about the evolution of Te Piki Oranga as a provider of Māori health services to a provider of Māori wellness services – bringing deeper immersion in Te Ao Māori practice and service provision.

The support Te Piki Oranga provides has expanded with the addition of services that address the social determinant of health such as housing (Healthy Homes Initiative), restorative justice (Te Pae Oranga), and mental health support (Te Ata Pūao, Te Kākano Hou).

The past 10 years have seen a progression of partnerships with Waikawa Marae, Picton Medical Centre, Cancer Society and Manu Ora GP practice. These partnerships were built through whanaungatanga, and benefit our whānau.

The floor was opened up to friends to kōrero (Margy Crosby and Felicity Spencer spoke). The influential impact on the wellbeing on our whānau through services and collaborative effort in development was a constant theme, and highlighted the high esteem in which Te Piki Oranga Wairau holds its community relationships.

Top: Ricky Carr speaks while a presentation of photos from the past 10 years plays in the background.

Bottom: Plenty of kai and kōrero was enjoyed by kaimahi and manuhiri.

Stand-out memories from 10 years with TPO

By Arihia (Alice) Adair – Pūkenga Manaaki

• Meeting with Tumuaki Anne Hobby during the formation of Te Piki Oranga.

• Our poari. Their kaha, aroha and the leadership of Aunty Jane. Mema poari who gave knowledge, cultural support, mentoring and coaching to me. Some have now passed to be with their tūpuna.

• The kaupapa Māori journey for some of us to understand the bigger meaning of kaupapa, what it looks like and how the knowledge can be applied in our mahi and daily lives. It is fun too!

• Our Motueka tari: Fun, fun, fun! We have heaps of laughter and do not need a reason to celebrate. Every day is wā harikoa.

• Whānau achievements are always acknowledged. We care and we say so. Together, we strive for excellence in the enabling of Māori wellness.

• Whānau, kaumātua, ngā hoa kaimahi. We look back to the contribution of kaimahi who have left the service for other fields of mahi.

• Matariki. The different hubs and tari are unique, and at Matariki we celebrate together.

• COVID-19 was an invisible taniwha amongst us that has no qualms about who will receive a dose. Our nurses had our backs, and fronts – all sides!

• Pride in Te Piki Oranga. Pride in Iwi i te Tauihu o te waka-a-Māui.

• Gaining further qualifications in my mahi.

• I am thankful I have ‘walked the talk’ with community groups and people. Community co-operation and collaboration makes for strong relationships, understanding and whānau wellness.

• I never doubted that Te Piki Oranga would graduate from being the ‘new kids on the block’ to an unmistakably Māori, highly functional wellness service. We are good at what we do!

  He aha te mea nui o te ao?

  He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata!

Arihia (left) shares a hongi with Anne Hobby at Matariki 2024.

Insights from an original! My 10 years of care

By Gaynor Rikihana-Tākao, Pūkenga Kaiwhakahaere ki Motueka

My Te Tauihu story starts when I moved to Motueka in October 2008 to joi my husband and his whānau.

I worked in rest homes and in public health and primary health roles. They paid well and I enjoyed working with the elderly, but these roles were culturally unsatisfying.

This was because I wasn’t working with Māori. I was working mostly with Pākehā – some stunning, but mostly not. This caused me awful health issues and low self-esteem, and those who know me would say that it is hard to bring me down!

During this time, Māori health services in Te Tauihu were amalgamating, causing unhappiness for some. As a rāwaho (outsider) I observed and gave support, where required by ngā iwi kāinga.

Finding my hauora home in Te Piki Oranga

In July 2014 Te Piki Oranga was established, and I was employed soon afterwards in October. Having worked in other Māori health services, I could see we had a long way to go culturally as an organisation. But I also knew that I had found my home in healthcare.

Our Tumuaki was chosen well, in my opinion. I only knew a little bit about Anne Hobby then, but I had faith and was ready to be led forward as a warrior for hauora Māori.

We couldn’t have proven ourselves in that first year-long contract without our Tumuaki, who grew broad shoulders during roles in nursing and in mental healthcare. To this experience Anne brought a strong sense of justice – driven to change those outrageous statistics for Māori health.

Anne was clearly going to make Te Piki Oranga work ‘come hell or high water’ and saw that employing Māori, and people sensitive to our kaupapa, was key to putting ngāi tātou te iwi Māori on the pathway to better health.

Bringing cultural competency to clinical expertise

From the start I planned to make my workplace a Māori space, a safe space culturally for Māori, and for me.

I have loved seeing kaimahi develop with the music, waiata and celebration of things Māori that I have enjoyed bringing into our mahi to complement our clinical training and services.

Cultural competency is key to achieving our whakatakanga me te kitenga – to restore whānau health for a positive future.

Our growth has been staggering, from kaimahi personal growth to the huge increase in the contracts we’ve secured and services we provide.

As we grew, we stayed true to our kaupapa – by Māori for Māori – to the point where we could proudly call ourselves a Kaupapa Māori Wellness Service employing over 75 per cent Māori staff.

I’ve seen kaimahi come and go, and some return. This space is not for the faint-hearted. If you’re looking for the biggest salaries – aroha mai e hoa mā kei wāhi kē.

We have experienced racism, sexism, ageism.

But we’re Māori and we’re tough.

It was tough for our Pākehā kaimahi also sometimes, receiving jibes from their Pakeha peers for working in a Māori organisation. That made me reflect on my experience working in Pākehā organisations – feeling isolated, among people unwilling to understand me and care for me as a Māori person with a rich cultural background I was very willing to share.

Kei te tū tonu mātou a Te Piki Oranga, ka haere ki mua kāore tō mātou mahi e mutu ahakoa te aha. He aha te mea nui o te ao, he tangata, he whānau, he hapū, he iwi.

He aroha mau roa ki a Te Piki Oranga, mauri ora!

Gaynor Rikihana-Tākao in her element at Matariki 2024

New forms for a better online experience

We have updated our forms, to make it easier for you to get in touch.

A new service referral (application) form

One new form has replaced separate forms for our health hubs.

• complete the form on a mobile phone, tablet or desktop computer

• or complete it as an online PDF, or by printing the PDF and filling it out by hand

• new sections, such as a list of available services, aim to make your application efficient

All options are in one place here.

A new whānau services feedback form

Te Piki Oranga values your feedback. It’s good to know when we get things right, and we need to know if we can do things better. Our new whānau service feedback form:

• replaces the former ‘client evaluation form’

• can be completed on all types of device

• is still available as a PDF to print or complete online

• includes new sections, to help us consider your feedback

New complaints form

If your feedback is strong and you would like to make a complaint, we have a new, improved process for doing this.

• information about our process to handle complaints is on a new complaints webpage

• you will find online and PDF forms on this page also

10 years of manaaki for Te Tauihu

Te Piki Oranga celebrated its 10th anniversary in July with open days at Whakatū, Wairau, Motueka and Waitohi health hubs.

The events were fun and whānau-friendly, with kai, cake, games, quizzes, raffles and kapa haka alongside the offer of health checks and immunisation.

The open days were an opportunity to both celebrate and learn about Te Piki Oranga, an organisation that has grown to become the leading provider of kaupapa Māori health services in Te Tauihu – Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough.

One of the facts that Tumuaki (General Manager) Anne Hobby shared in media coverage about the anniversary milestone is that, in 2024, approximately 25 per cent of people enrolled for Te Piki Oranga healthcare services across the region were non-Māori.

Anne says that this is a typical enrolment rate. “It is validation that non-Māori appreciate and do well under our model of care, Te Puna Hauora, which weaves te ao Māori values and tikanga into evidence-based, mainstream health and wellness practice.”

Te Piki Oranga was established on 1 July 2014 through the collaboration of, and merger with, six Māori health providers. The first services began from Whakatū Marae and health hubs opened soon after in Motueka and Wairau. Kaimahi also provide mobile clinics and in-home services.

Approximately 4,500 people now use Te Piki Oranga services each year and the workforce has grown from 50 to 100 full-time positions to support increasing demand.

Anne says that over the 10 years, Te Piki Oranga has rapidly expanded and diversified its services as new funding and contracts were offered or won.

Antenatal and early years care, quit-smoking services, cancer screening, counselling, driver’s licence support and healthy homes services are now available alongside healthcare such as immunisation, nursing, health checks and diabetes clinics.

At the Whakatū tari celebration, a 10th anniversary cake was cut by some of the kaimahi who have been with Te Piki Oranga since it was established in 2014.

Front row, left to right: Anne Hobby, Tumuaki; Jane du Feu, Chairperson; Shelley Carter

 Back row, left to right: Deborah Tauwhare; Trudy Gibson; Rana Eggers; Walter Tia; Dianne MacDonald; Gloria Eggling

Kaimahi from the Whakatū Te Hā and Stop Smoking Service teams, from Te Piki Oranga and Te Whatu Ora / Health NZ respectively.

Members of the kapa haka team at the Whakatū tari performed at least 10 waiata, under the cover of a marquee during heavy rain on the day of the open day at the Whakatū tari.

Gaynor Rikihana-Takao, Pūkenga Kaiwhakahaere - Site Manager (Motueka) with a healthcare colleague from Hato Hone St John - Motueka.

Motueka turned on the sunshine for a fun whānau day packed with games, kai and health services. Here, Motueka kaimahi with a 10th anniversary cake.

A Motueka haka haka group performed for kaimahi, whānau and guests at the Motueka tari open day.

Waiata and karakia before kai for kaimahi and guests at the Wairau open day.

A message from Anne

This is a message from Tumuaki Anne Hobby, in the April issue of Te Puna Pānui.

In this issue, I would like to acknowledge the rapid pace of change and announcements from the new coalition government in its first few months.

In particular I’d like to mihi to Riana Manuel and Tipa Mahuta, chief executive and chair of Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority) respectively, for their leadership following the announcement that Te Aka Whai Ora will be disestablished by 30 June.

In her message to Aotearoa New Zealand, Tipa Mahuta reminded us of the unwavering force behind Te Aka Whai Ora – the “the self-determination of whānau, hapū and iwi, and the advocacy of rangatira and Māori leaders”.

In her message to organisations such as Te Piki Oranga, Riana Manuel said, “I know you’ll remain steadfast in your commitment to providing quality care to whānau, regardless of the changes ahead, and you’ll continue to deliver outstanding services for our communities.”

This is my message to you also – Te Piki Oranga remains steadfast in its mahi, with the funding, support and partnership we need to achieve our kitenga: Me whakahaumanu te mana o te whānau, ā ka haere whakamua – to restore whānau health for a positive future.

Our mahi continues, unwaveringly, while Te Aka Whai Ora moves its functions and kaimahi into Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Health / Manatū Hauora. We will draw strength from the tūāpapa (foundation) of our 10 years of service, partnership and ngā uara, our values. And we have the guiding light of our Mahere Rautaki / Strategic Plan 2023-2028. Whānau are at the centre of this plan, because we want to support the development of healthy, strong and self-sufficient whānau, and support access to cultural knowledge that unites us as Māori.

This year we will continue to grow our range of services and support. At the same time, we will continue to grow our own cultural capabilities, so we can provide culturally appropriate services and increase kotahitanga across our organisation. Having worked in hauora Māori long enough to have experienced many iterations of government and public services, I take heart from the whakataukī ‘Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua‘. Translated, this means, ‘I walk backwards into the future with my eyes fixed on my past.’

As a final note, we have included a readership survey in this issue of Te Puna Pānui. Please take the time to give us your feedback – it is important to us.

Nāku noa, nā

Anne Hobby, Tumuaki

Te Puna Pānui readers' survey

18 July: This survey has now closed.

Please contact us with your feedback about Te Puna Pānui or communications by email: admin@tpo.org.nz.

Please help us improve our Te Puna Pānui (newsletter) by taking part in our readers’ survey.

How to take part

Complete the survey online at: www.bit.ly/TPO-survey

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Ngā mihi nui ki a koe for taking part in this survey.

Healthy homes at the heart of hauora

Te Piki Oranga provides the national Whare Ora / Healthy Homes service to whānau in Te Tauihu. We aim to increase the number of children and whānau living in healthy homes. By doing this, we can prevent avoidable hospitalisations of whānau whose ill health is caused by cold, damp and mouldy housing.

From left: Teana Scoon (Whare Ora Pūkenga Manaaki), Rawinia Howard (Taituarā) and Khylee Baker (Whare Ora Kaituitui).

Kaimahi Teana Scoon and Khylee Baker share some of their amazing mahi.

Teana Scoon

Ko Puketapu te maunga

Ko Te Arai te awa

Ko Takitimu te waka

Ko Ngāi Tāwhiri te hapu

Ko Ohako te marae

Ko Rongowhakaata te iwi

Ko Teana Scoon ahau

I am a Pūkenga Manaaki / Advisor with the Whare Ora team in Wairau.

Working with vulnerable people has opened my eyes to the everyday challenges that some of our whānau face including, and most importantly, suitable housing.

In my career in different community roles I have found that reliable accommodation gives whānau stability and a base to work from. My goal is always to help a whānau realise their worth and give them the tools to enrich their lives in a way that makes them feel valued.

Khylee Baker

Kia ora whānau

Ko wai au?

Ko Mauao kohatunui te maunga

Tauranga moana ki te awanui

Ko Te Whānau o Tauwhao te hapu o Ngāi Te Rangi

Ko Tauwhao te wahine toa

Mataatua te waka

Ko Khylee Baker ahau

I’m the Kaituitui / Co-ordinator for Whare Ora / Healthy Homes for the Te Tauihu rohe.

It’s my job to let whānau know about how we can help make your home warmer and drier.

Part of co-ordinating this wonderful service is to equip our Home Advisors, who meet with whānau in their homes and help with ways to make it healthier, safer, warmer and drier.

Khylee Baker and delivery crew with a donation of bedding from Linen House.

The gifts that keep on giving

Te Piki Oranga is grateful for the manaakitanga of Laser Plumbing, Mr Plumber and Linen House for their donations to whānau in need, distributed through our Whare Ora / Healthy Homes service.

Laser Plumbing in Wairau / Blenheim donated several generous grocery vouchers that we distributed to vulnerable whānau just before Kirihimete.

For one whānau, the grocery voucher put kai on the table for nine people in a three-bedroom house, including three tamariki they care for from another whānau. For another recipient, a young hapū māmā, a voucher eased her worries and lifted her spirits.

When Te Piki Oranga shared a little of these whānau lives on social media – small insights of life in temporary housing, overcrowding and trying to stay well in a cold and leaky whare – Wairau tradesman Mr Plumber was moved to donate his professional services.

The recipient whānau were delighted with Mr Plumber’s improvements to their whare – certifying gas fittings and upgrading the gas bottles.

Lastly, just in time for winter, Linen House donated $75,000 worth of winter bedding to three Whare Ora / Healthy Home teams in Te Waipounamu.

We worked with our peers in Ōtautahi / Christchurch and Ōtepoti / Dunedin to arrange shipment of the bedding: Te Piki Oranga paid for the shipping costs, the Christchurch provider organised the storage and the Dunedin provider organised the shipping at a heavily discounted price.

The share of the bedding received by Te Piki Oranga will go a long way for whānau in need this winter.

If you are hapū or have young tamariki (0-5 years) living with you, we may be able to provide support to improve your housing conditions.

Please get in touch using the details on our webpage.

Te Pae Oranga Iwi Community Panels

From right: Ngareta Campion, a social worker based in Motueka photographed at a Te Pae Oranga Iwi Community Panel training hui with Teresa Ngaruhe, a Te Pae Oranga panel member.

Te Pae Oranga Iwi Community Panels are proving a powerful way of reducing re-offending and improving outcomes for Māori in contact with the justice system.

A 2019 evaluation showed that, at a national level, Te Pae Oranga reduced harm from re-offending by 22 per cent. In this article, we look at how the programme works in Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui.

Our role in remediation and reducing re-offending

Te Piki Oranga has partnered with New Zealand Police, under the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, to provide the panels in the Te Tauihu rohe since August 2018.

The panels are an alternative to court for minor offending by people aged 17 years and older. They give community members a voice, involve victims in the remediation process and, with an average of 350 panel hearings each year, save police and court time.

How the panels work

Police refer people to Te Pae Oranga and provide panel members with the facts. The participant is asked to explain themselves and how they could repair the harm and prevent re-offending. The panel then works with all parties to decide remedial actions.

Our Te Pae Oranga facilitators ensure the participant has the chance to have any health and wellbeing needs addressed – these are often contributing factors.

A perspective from Te Piki Oranga

As Te Pae Oranga Kaikawe Kōrero (Co-ordinator), Betty Soane has been involved from the start. She describes the impact of Te Pae Oranga as providing second chances and freeing up the justice system.

“Our clients are forever telling me that they appreciate the panel listening to their stories, as they have never told them, and we are accepting and listen,” Ms Soane says.

An important part of Te Pae Oranga is mahi aroha, where participants give back to the community. This could be hunting, fishing or gardening for a community, carving and gifting an item, or making a donation to a charity.

“Most of our clients have not really achieved much and once they complete something like this they are very proud and come into the office to let us know, or call.”

Driving offences, often due to lack of a licence, are a good example of how Te Pae Oranga can make a difference.

“We will pay for them to sit their licence and to have driving lessons with our instructor, and ask the participant to make a donation to the Road Safety programme in return,” Ms Soane says.

“Driving licences are very important especially for our young māmā as they are able shop and take kids to doctors without looking over the shoulder for police.”

“Te Pae Oranga is about giving people a second chance and the opportunity to avoid a criminal record, if they complete the programme.

“We have had many successes, with our amazing panelists who can think outside the square and who have insights into participants’ lives,” Ms Soane says.

“The police have been amazing and are always ready to help. I believe the officers we had with us have changed their ways of thinking.”

Te Pae Oranga is for people of all ethnicities who benefit from a kaupapa Māori approach, says Ms Soane.

“We start with a mihi whakatau and karakia and let them know that is because we ‘start Māori and finish Māori’. This is a special kaupapa that I am proud to be a part of. It’s a real honour and privilege to be able to help people through these hard times and get them the results they need.”

Te Pae Oranga Liaison Officer Sergeant Dave Edwards and new panellists at a Te Pae Oranga training hui.

A perspective from Te Tauihu Police

Sergeant Dave Edwards is Te Pae Oranga Liaison Officer for the Whakatū / Nelson rohe. He has seen how the panel process can re-set the course of someone’s life.

“It’s common to see people not trust what’s happening, or they’re surprised when support is put on the table. They see that the people they’re talking to are specialists and not necessarily there to judge their actions at face value,” Sergeant Edwards says.

He emphasises that the panels provide holistic benefits.

"Everything we offer the participant can be offered to the victims as well, which can provide needed support.”

Sergeant Edwards also wants to correct any assumption that the panels are an easy way out for offenders.

“Participants are required to not only explain their situation, but also complete taskings and formally take accountability for the event that brought them before the panel. That can be difficult in front of three well-respected members of the community.

“Ultimately, they’re before the panels because the court wasn’t the right place for them in the first place. It’s great this pathway exists to deal with that, but that it also takes a good look at the support needed to prevent the situation happening again.”

This year, Sergeant Edwards intends to raise police staff awareness on how they can use the panels, to achieve increased referrals from the front line. His message for his colleagues is clear – to use their intuition.

“If your gut is telling you this person shouldn’t before the courts, or the event doesn’t warrant it – come and talk to me.”

Police, Te Piki Oranga kaimahi and panellists at a Te Pae Oranga Iwi Community Panel hui in November 2023.

““I cannot express how grateful we are to participate in Te Pae Oranga. I have witnesed the significant change in my son’s manner and ongoing wellbeing.””

— A panel participant’s feedback

““Thank you for treating me with respect and giving me a chance...sitting in handcuffs is something I never want to experience again.””

— A panel participant’s feedback

““The services and supports offered have not only helped me address the challenges I faced but have also empowered me to become a responsible and contributing member of society.””

— A panel participant’s feedback

Tuku Te Rere – our wings unfurling

Now in its second year, our Tuku Te Rere programme, established by Te Pou Taki Carl Baker, has put kaimahi firmly on a journey towards greater cultural capability.

Our kitenga is to have culturally capable kaimahi providing an exemplary Māori wellness service. Through Tuku Te Rere, kaimahi progress through four phases of learning that are shaped around the concept of a manu, or bird.

Pitopito kōrero, by Carl Baker

Ko tō tātau anga āheitanga ahurea, our cultural capability framework, is thriving.

In resonance with our taukī whakatakanga (mission statement), ‘mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu’, we are equipping ourselves with the mātauranga to provide a hauora service aligned to tikanga Māori.

All kaimahi have an ‘onboarding’ pass for their flight plan on the continuum of learning and I am pleased with the journey so far. For the year ahead, we will continue to focus on the majority of kaimahi at Manu Pūhouhou and Manu Kūao stages.

We have met our target, with 30 per cent of kaimahi reaching these taumata. Fifty per cent of kaimahi have undertaken Te Ataarangi training and almost 70 per cent attended our tikanga wānanga, which included Te Tiriti o Waitangi training.

Mahi a Atua training and learning is continuing to be a highlight for kaimahi. This year we hope to see the rest of kaimahi undertake Mahi a Atua courses.

Kaimahi perspectives of their learning journey

Summer Stronach

Pitopito kōrero, by Summer Stronach

I found the resources provided on SharePoint very helpful. It was handy to have the correct kupu and info available to me so I didn’t have to second guess anything I searched on the internet.

Any other awhi I got from kaimahi always felt safe for me and I wasn’t too scared to ask for help when needed.

The process of sitting my assessment felt very informal – in the best way. Lots of us freak out and think it’s going to be a test in strict circumstances and that no mistakes are allowed. It was a really nice way to kōrero and ‘be tested’ at the same time.

Rachelle Tauroa

Pitopito kōrero, by Rachelle Tauroa

I was a bit whakamā to sit my Manu Pūhouhou assessment. My nerves made me feel I couldn’t do it.

Carl was probably key to me taking that first step as when he said, ‘You are sitting your Manu Pūhouhou’, I thought, ‘I am ok’. While those nerves were still there, Carl made the process feel easy.

That push helped me to make a commitment that by the end of 2023 I would sit my Manu Kūao assessment, which I did and received my badge. Now I am on my journey to sit my Manu Pīrere.

Along with Te Ataarangi, the resources are very helpful in helping me to start that kōrero journey of putting sentences together. I am now trying to kōrero te reo Māori when I can, and with who I can.

I feel Tuku Te Rere has really helped me feel more confident in my reo journey and being ok about making hapa (mistakes).

Pitopito kōrero, by Georgie (Georgina) Taukamo

I found the assessment included awesome, important fundamentals for my te reo journey, covering a lot of the basic formal / informal greetings that I did not know.

Another fundamental for me is the expansion / revival of my prior knowledge around our health models that underpin our values and practice. Being able to implement this into my mahi helped me with my work. It was highly valuable to revisit this and have Carl kōrero about hauora Māori health models more in depth.

I found that attending Ataarangi weekly with fellow kaimahi helped with confidence. Being able to kōrero and practice in the tari helped further my understanding of sentence structures and pronunciation of kupu.

I also found that by completing the assessment in a formal Word document prior and working through each task scheduled through my week helped my understanding. So when I was ready to sit my assessment I felt confident, because I had taken the time to really study it in depth at my own pace and, importantly, I understood it.

I really appreciated the links to learning resources. I also took the opportunity to ask Ataarangi kaimahi questions I had at the time, which was really helpful.

I think overall it was the awhi from fellow kaimahi that further encouraged me to complete the assessment. Mentors like Amber were helpful for other pātai. And just having a relaxed environment while completing the assessment with Carl really helped with my nerves.

It was also important to share my experience with other kaimahi who also attended Ataarangi – to encourage them to complete the cultural assessment, too. In my opinion, it all comes down to our peers – supporting each other to give us the confidence we lack within ourselves.

Once I completed Manu Kūao, I made a personal commitment to prioritise the time for me to learn and further my knowledge in Te Ao Māori. Also to encourage and annoy my peers to make the leap too!

Protect yourself and your whānau from flu this winter

Nau mai, haere mai – talk to us about getting your free influenza (flu) vaccine

The 2024 flu vaccine protects against seasonal flu, a virus that can make you seriously unwell.

Our qualified kaimahi create a supportive and welcoming environment for whānau to access and receive their vaccinations, whether it’s for flu, COVID-19, MMR or childhood diseases.

We are here to kōrero, listen, answer any pātai and provide accurate information if you are unsure whether vaccination is right for you or your whānau.

To kōrero and find the closest flu vaccine opportunity to you, please contact:

• Marissa Pou in Whakatū / Nelson 03 546 9099

• Donna Grace in Wairau / Blenheim 03 578 5750

• Or freephone 0800 ORANGA (0800 672 642)

Here is some more information about the flu.

Here some more information about the flu vaccine.

Caring for whānau with cancer

Te Piki Oranga Cancer Care Service is here to awhi whānau as they navigate the complexities of cancer care.

We provide:

• Health education for whānau

• Cancer screening support

• Support with transport and kai

• Support to access services

• Support for GP and specialist appointments

• Telehealth, mobile clinics, and outreach immunisations

Our experienced team also build relationships with existing cancer-specific and support services within Te Tauihu to influence and help ensure equitable outcomes for Māori are being met.

We are proud to work alongside kaimahi from Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora, Manu Ora, the Cancer Society, Victory Community Centre, Nelson Bays Primary Health, Marlborough Primary Health and others to awhi whānau through diagnosis and treatment.

Introducing Noi Burgess

Kaituitui Matepukpuku / Cancer Care Co-ordinator

Ko Aoraki te maunga

Ko Te Ara-a-Kiwa te moana

Ko Takitimu te waka

Ko Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe ngā iwi

Ko Murihuki te whenua

I te taha o tōku whaea Anaha Peterson

Ko Tarawera te maunga

Ko Te Puarenga te puna

Ko Te Arawa te waka

Ko Te Arawa te iwi

Ko Tūhourangi/Ngāti Wāhiao te hapu

Ko Te Pakira te marae ki te wahi o Whakarewarewa ki Rotorua

I te taha o tōku matua Hotene Haira

Ko Noi Burgess ahau

Heartland Services are here for rural whānau

Te Piki Oranga and Waikawa Marae are delighted to offer a new service to whānau living in rural and remote parts of Marlborough – Waikawa, Waitohi / Picton and Tōtaranui / Marlborough Sounds.

Te Piki Oranga is a leading provider of health and wellbeing services for Māori whānau in the Top of the South. With Waikawa Marae, the two organisations are now providing Heartland Services – for people in rural and remote regions of Marlborough.

Ricky Carr is Pūkenga Kaiwhakahaere (Site Manager) for the Te Piki Oranga services in Wairau. He says that Heartland Services will provide a much-needed presence and support for rural whānau.

“We can offer a physical location – a place to get things done in-person – as well as support on the phone or by video-conference,” Mr Carr says.

“Living, working and raising a family in rural and remote Marlborough can be challenging enough as it is. With Heartland Services we can provide access, information, support and specialist health and wellbeing services that will make life a little easier.

“Although it is early days we already have many Government and community agencies ready to run regular drop-in sessions and workshops in-person from our High Street hub in Waitohi, Picton,” Mr Carr says.

Allanah Burgess is Kaiwhakahaere (Manager) of Waikawa Marae. Ms Burgess says the decision to locate Heartland Services in Waitohi Picton township was made after first considering Waikawa Marae. By being in town, Waikawa Marae kaimahi are able to extend manaakitanga into a central location, she says.

“A lot happens on a marae, more than may be appreciated, such as our provision of health and social services like Whānau Ora that enable whānau and wider community members to thrive.

“When discussing how to make these essential new services available to whānau and others who need awhi, we decided in favour of the High Street hub from iwi-owned premises. This way we can uphold the tikanga of whakaruruhau to provide a safe, comfortable place as we do on the marae, and that happens to be in a convenient, central location for people.”

What is Heartland Services?

Heartland Services is a Ministry of Social Development initiative, with locations from Northland to Southland. Waikawa Marae and Te Piki Oranga were successful in their co-bid provide the newest Heartland Services hub, from Waitohi / Picton. The main services are:

• assistance with technology: email, printing, photocopying, scanning, phones and internet

• support with accessing government and community service forms, applications and websites

• a place to meet with government and community service staff, kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) or via videoconferencing

Drop-in sessions and health clinics

Government and community service staff are available on specific days, including:

• Inland Revenue (IRD)

• Workbridge and Connect agencies, for jobseekers and employers

• Diabetes support group

• Cancer information group

• Community Law (kaupapa Māori)

• Justice of the Peace

• Māori Land Court

• Whānau Ora navigators (from Waikawa Marae)

• Employment support (for both employers and employees)

Appointments are needed for some sessions – see the main webpage for detail

Building resilience with Te Ata Pūao

Mental health and addictions support programme Te Ata Pūao is now available in the Wairau rohe.

Te Ata Pūao supports people experiencing mild to medium mental health and/or addiction issues, including rangatahi who may not be eligible for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Te Ata Pūao began as a pilot programme in 2021 to support whānau in rural communities at a time when the effects of COVID-19 were exacerbating anxiety and dependency on drugs and alcohol.

In 2023 the programme was redeveloped as a permanent service offering, starting in Wairau with recruitment underway soon afterwards for a Whakatū-based programme.

Kaimahi include:

• pūkenga hauora hinengaro (mental health clinicians)

• pūkenga manaaki (whānau navigators)

• tautoko ahurea (cultural support workers)

Kaimahi work with tāngata whaiora (people seeking wellness and balance), and their whānau to provide support, treatment and therapy.

Rachelle Tauroa, Kaiawhi Hangarau Whakaaturanga, was pivotal in establishing Te Ata Pūao. Rachelle says the programme has a focus on early detection, so that support can be provided sooner rather than later, and on supporting tāngata whaiora to become more resilient and able to cope with life’s challenges.

“The service expands the reach of other Te Piki Oranga mental health and addictions services, to increase equity of access, address whānau needs in a more holistic manner, reduce wait times, and improve outcomes,” Rachelle says.

“We use a kaupapa Māori model that focuses on positive aspirations to obtain hauora, recognising that hauora aligns with tikanga Māori and Māori cultural standards.”

From left, Mahia Matika and Aiden Broughton (both pukenga manaaki) and David (‘Chook’) Norgate (tautoko ahurea) are members of an expanding Te Ata Pūao team.