Empowering whānau with wellbeing

By Tāwhaki Simons – Kaiārahi Hōtaka, Cancer Society (Nelson and Motueka)

In October, Te Piki Oranga collaborated with the Cancer Society to host a whānau wellbeing day in Ōmaio (Stoke). Here is Tāwhaki Simons’ pakiwaitara:

Tāne Matua, Tāne-nui-a-Rangi, Tāne Whakapiripiri, whakarongo mai, whakarongo mai

Nāu i wehe ngā mātua, nāu ko te rā, nāu ko te pō Nāu i whakairi te whānau mārama, nāu ko te awatea Nāu i tiki atu ngā mātauranga, nāu ko te wānanga Nāu i pupuhi te hauora, nāu ko te tangata

Nāu ahau, nāu ahau Tīhei Mauri Ora!

The kaupapa of this day was to empower whānau by providing them with the opportunity to whakarongo, kōrero and connect around their hauora.

Kaumātua, rangatahi and tamariki, tāne and wāhine were offered information about services and support. A fun icebreaker quiz incorporated serious and relevant messaging about prevention, and giveaways also reinforced positive health messages.

Noi Burgess, Kaituhituhi Matepukupuku, spoke about the cancer support services offered by Te Piki Oranga. The highlight of the day was rangatira Te Ururoa Flavell’s kōrero about his haerenga with prostate cancer – his passion for life was inspiring to all in attendance.

Te Ururoa spoke engagingly about the emotional rollercoaster of receiving a cancer diagnosis, going through treatment and his willingness to throw everything at his illness for the sake of his whānau.

He passionately implored tāne to be proactive with their hauora and have regular check-ups. “It’s about relationships,” Te Ururoa emphasised. “When we’re not well, it impacts the whole whānau!”

The feedback from whānau was very positive:

• “It was good to talk to another tāne with the same cancer”

• “We need more of these sorts of events to keep people talking and thinking about their health for their whānau’s sake”

• “The manaakitanga and kai were amazing”

• “I actually only came for a kai with my whānau but ended up taking away some things to think about”

One tāne told me a few days later that his wife had insisted on him getting a prostate specific antigen test after listening to Te Ururoa’s kōrero.

Photos above: Kaimahi and whānau in attendance

Te Ururoa Flavell gave inspirational cancer kōrero

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Lets kōrero about what matters most

By Tania Smith - Kaiāwhina / Kaiatawhi (Community and service support / Health promotion and prevention)

A warm welcome from Summer Stronach (left) and Marissa Pou.

Hauora days held at Franklyn Village gave whānau an opportunity to kōrero freely about their hauora and wellbeing. Here is Tania’s pakiwaitara:

We have recently had the privilege of hosting two ‘Kia Piki tō Ora’ hauora days for Franklyn Village whānau.

The kaupapa for the first event was to invite kōrero about ‘what matters the most when it comes to your hauora’. This was informative kaupapa for whānau engagement with whakawhanaungatanga. A good group of whānau participated, asking questions and enjoying the spot prizes and kai at the end.

The kaupapa for the second event was to manaaki whānau with clear hauora information. We did this ‘expo-style’ with stalls for immunisation, cancer screening, diabetes, smokefree, nutrition and more.

It was encouraging to see a good number of whānau attend and fabulous kōrero happening. Kaimahi made it enjoyable for whānau, enabling them time to engage and enjoy the process and kōrero.

We received enquiries and follow-ups, including referrals into services such as cancer screening and Te Hā – quit smoking services. We plan to make hauora days in regular event in 2025.

Whānau feedback about Kia Piki tō Ora hauora days

• “Franklyn Village is based purely on the idea of being a village and people like you and people like us is what makes it a community, so kia ora and thank you so much, it has been really enjoyable.”

• “I think it’s good we’ve got these sorts of services, there’s nothing out there like this for us doing it hard. One of the things we’ve got here is a community and you guys (TPO) are part of that community so the more we see your faces the more we’ll consider you as family. A lot of us get very whakamā and we shouldn’t because it’s about our wellbeing, so having these things encourages us to ask for help.”

Photo captions:

• Left: Maria Briggs (left) and Naomi Johnson kōrero with whānau

• Riht: From left, Naomi Johnson, Hamish Brown and Noi Burgess.