Tikanga wānanga brings kotahitanga

A tikanga wānanga for Te Piki Oranga kaimahi was held at Waikawa Marae in December as part of the Te Piki Oranga Cultural Capability Framework Strategy.

Carl Baker, Te Pou Taki, says that wānanga is a place of learning, where kaimahi are taught aspects of celestial and terrestrial Māori knowledge.

“For some kaimahi this was a new experience, and all kaimahi were kept safe and well-informed of the cultural practices. There was time for reflection, karakia, waiata, working together and laughter,” Carl says.

“Wānanga will continue to be an essential component of Te Piki Oranga, especially more beneficial by being on the marae, with mana whenua throughout Te Tauihu.”

The whakataukī Carl chose to describe the tikanga wānanga is: Whatungarongaro te tangata toitū te whenua – as people disappear from sight, the land remains.

Participant Rachelle Tauroa, Kaiawhi Hangarau Whakaaturanga, says the wānanga was an opportunity for kaimahi to learn, and strengthen knowledge, about important tikanga such as pōwhiri.

Kaimahi enjoyed a kōrero from Barney Thomas, Te Tauihu pou tairangahau (extensive cultural advisor) who talked about his life growing up in Waitohi, his mahi with the Department of Conservation and his mahi within the rohe, iwi and hapu whānau of Te Tauihu.

Mr Thomas holds many governance and kaitiaki roles with Ngāti Rārua Ᾱtiawa Iwi Trust, representing the iwi in areas such as resource management, land management and Te Āwhina Marae. In November this year he was awarded Te Tohu Ratonga Tūmatanui o Aotearoa, the New Zealand Public Service Medal as recognition for 40 years of civil service.

Rachelle says another highlight of the wānanga was the workshop around ngā uara (values).

“This started with each tari doing a skit or kōrero around what they have been doing in their tari around ngā uara,” Rachelle says.

One example of this is the kōrero led by Gaynor Rikihana-Takao, Nehi Arahanga for the Motueka tari.

“Gaynor described how our values are a taonga and a way of being within Te Ao Māori, which was supported with a brief kōrero from Chook Norgate.”

Also at the wānanga, Thomas Ngaruhe gave a kōrero about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. And kaimahi all contributed to wānanga duties ranging from breakfast and clean-up, to leading karakia and waiata.

Photo captions, from top left and going around clockwise:

• Te Piki Oranga Board Chair Jane de Feu

• Te Piki Oranga Tumuaki Anne Hobby

• Barney Thomas

• Ngareta Campion

• Kōrero about ngā uara, values

• One of many waiata

• Thomas Ngaruhe

• Te Piki Oranga Te Pou Taki Carl Baker

Kaimahi at the tikanga wānanga held at Waikawa Marae in December 2023

Mana Wāhine takes aim at equity

Te Piki Oranga reduces inequitable health outcomes by providing high-quality, accessible services that are consistent with the concepts of whānau ora and tino rangatiratanga.

The Mana Wāhine hauora clinics are an example of this, where women can access free cervical screening among a wide range of health services. Kaimahi make the clinics comfortable and ensure they happen at a relaxed pace with plenty of time for kōrero and pātai between wāhine, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Mana Wāhine clinics grew in strength this year

The first two clinics were held in 2022, and this year continued with the most recent Mana Wāhine clinic on 9 December at the Waimeha tari, where cervical screening and HPV self-testing was available to Māori and Pasifika wāhine between the ages of 25 and 69. Each wahine who participated received a take-home kete full of kai and there were gift vouchers and a prize draw to encourage participation.

An earlier Mana Wāhine clinic on 16 September was held to coincide with Cervical Screening Awareness Month, and with the start of HPV self-testing as an option for wāhine in Te Tauihu.

For the September clinic, Te Piki Oranga collaborated with Allanah Burgess and her team at Waikawa Marae,  and Felicity Spencer and Kaye Macdonald from the Marlborough Cancer Society.

Lorraine Staunton, Kaiwhakahaere Ratonga – Service Delivery/Operations Manager, says kaimahi received some excellent feedback about the new HPV self-test experience, and the Mana Wāhine clinic in general.

“This new, safe and effective cervical screening option was offered to wāhine who were eligible. We exceeded our goal to complete 20 screenings, with 21 completed and eight more women who we are following up with to complete their screening another time,” Lorraine says.

“Many thanks to Belinda and Stevie from Te Whatu Ora who continuously work so closely with us to prepare for these events.  Having Belinda’s support via phone on the day to check for anyone walking in on the day was a great help.

“Leading up to the day we had the honour of our recent recipient of the prestigious Kings Service Medal, Whaea Miraka Norgate, from Te Whatu Ora also, support us with making phone calls to book wāhine in.  Although she was on leave, she still found the time to support this kaupapa she believes in so strongly,” Lorraine says.

“We made many referrals for follow-up vaccinations, to Breast Screen Aotearoa, to Quit Coaches, GP services and Te Piki Oranga services.

“As always, the day was great fun, we had a great team and great connections were made. The wāhine went away with their goodies and the pride of knowing they are now up to date with important health checks.

“Ngā mihinui maioha to all those who made this day such a great success. It was yet another example of kotahitanga and services working together to achieve the best outcome for whānau.”

The health kōrero and education included:

• GP enrolment

• Vaccinations

• Diabetes (there was a diabetes nurse specialist onsite)

• Support to quit or reduce smoking/vaping

• Bowel screening: How a home test kit works, and the change to the eligibility age range for Māori and Pasifika people from January 2024 (changing to ages 50 to 74).

• Breast screening: How to check your own breasts (especially important for wāhine who are not within the age range for free breast screening)

Wāhine feedback (quotes)

• Amazing experience, lovely and warm welcoming from all the ladies, I will let all my whanau and friend’s know how easy it was to do the self-swab.

• Absolutely felt confident in the information received, appreciated the self-swab. It was a wonderful atmosphere. Lovely wahine Maori lead Kaupapa.

• That was a positive experience, very informative, the nurse listened to all my questions and answered them in a way I could understand and appropriately.

• The moment I walked in the door I was taken care of, it felt great to be on the Marae.

• Easy-peasy, Now I can tell all my whanau how easy it was.

• Fantastic experience, I felt safe and comfortable.

• I was well looked after with lots of aroha, it’s the 1st time that it wasn’t uncomfortable.

• Great first-time experience with the self-swab test. Very easy and straight forward

 
Key points about cervical screening

• Regular cervical screening is one of the best protection against cervical cancer.

• In Aotearoa New Zealand, cervical screening used to be done by taking a sample of cells from your cervix. This was known as a 'smear test'. 

• From 12 September 2023 the cervical screening test changed to a human papilloma virus (HPV) screening test.

• HPV primary screening is important for anyone with a cervix who is aged between 25 and 69 years who has ever had any sexual contact.

• Treatment is available if your HPV screen result suggests it's needed.

Manu Ora wins Supreme Business Award

Manu Ora have been awarded the Supreme Business Award in the 2023 Marlborough Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.

The Wairau-based primary care team, established in 2021 in partnership with Te Piki Oranga, also won the ‘New and Emerging Business’ and ‘Community Impact’ award categories. Manu Ora Director and GP, Dr Sara Simmons, says the team feels humbled.

“This recognition shines a light on health equity, and particularly Māori health equity. We are incredibly honoured to be acknowledged for our mahi and would like to thank all those who have supported our innovation and commitment to do things differently, since Manu Ora was founded in 2021.

“We see this acknowledgement as another indicator of the difference that can be made to the hauora (wellbeing) of our whānau. It has been a busy two years for us, and there is still so much to do.

Manu Ora Director and GP, Dr Rachel Inder, says it was a leap of faith to establish a different kind of practice that focuses on achieving health equity in meaningful ways.

“We are grateful to Te Piki Oranga for their partnership, and for the founding contributions from Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough, Marlborough Primary Health Organisation, Rātā Foundation, Rangitāne o Wairau, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu, and The Care Foundation who supported our vision. We are so pleased to have this recognition for their commitment to our kaupapa right from the outset.

“Thanks to our amazing kaimahi and community, Manu Ora is really flourishing,” Dr Inder says.

In a letter of congratulations to Ricky Carr Pūkenga Kaiwhakahaere - Site Manager for Te Piki Oranga in Wairau, Drs Simmons and Inder say:

Ka mihi mātou ki tō tautoko i a mātou mahi. As our partnership with Te Piki Oranga is integral in this success, we acknowledge you and your rōpū as we celebrate these awards. Ngā mihi maioha for believing in us, and for supporting our vision, our mahi, our whānau.

It was a leap of faith to establish a different kind of practice that focuses on achieving health equity in meaningful ways. One that offers no or low-cost health care to our whānau with complex needs in a flexible, culturally safe and whānau centred way.

After a busy two years, we know there is still much to do. Our caring and experienced rōpū are committed to continuing to offer a service that meets the needs of our whānau, ensuring we reduce inequities in access to healthcare and improve health outcomes for Māori in Wairau.

Ka tino mihia tōu ki tō mātau kaupapa. Your commitment to our kaupapa is truly appreciated.

About Manu Ora

Established in 2021 by Wairau locals Dr Rachel Inder and Dr Sara Simmons (Ngāi Tahu), in partnership with Te Piki Oranga, Manu Ora is a medical centre with a difference.

Manu Ora is a kaupapa Māori charity set up to offer low or no-cost healthcare in a more flexible, culturally safe, and whānau-centred way.

In December 2022 an independent evaluation assessed the ways in which this unique kaupapa Māori primary healthcare service in Wairau is achieving its goals. Read about this in our pitopito kōrero here.

www.manuora.org.nz

Most of the Manu Ora team at the awards.

Supporting winter wellness for essential workers

Supporting winter wellness for essential workers

With warnings from virologists that New Zealand should prepare for a bad flu season, Sealord has taken steps to protect its workers and their household members from the virus.

The major Nelson employer held a special vaccination event, organised by the company’s Health & Safety team, in conjunction with Te Piki Oranga on 26 April. 113 members of the company’s whānau are now better protected against catching and spreading influenza to the colleagues, families and communities.

The clinic was set up in Sealord’s amenities building at the Vickerman Street site, making it close and convenient to workers.  

“I didn’t need to take time off work or organise a visit to the doctor,” says Wetfish Factory General Hand Alan Bruning.

The other benefits of free onsite vaccination appreciated by workers included the supportive presence of friends and whānau, and being able to ask colleagues to translate some of the nurses’ advice and instructions into their native languages.

Three nurses from Te Piki Oranga administered the vaccinations and some workers, such as Forklift Driver Grant Faulknor, opted to receive their COVID-19 booster vaccinations at the same time. Sealord support staff helped people check-in and guided everyone through the required recovery time in a special waiting room.

“We joined forces with Te Piki Oranga nearly two years ago to enable members of the Sealord team to have COVID-19 vaccinations on-site,” says Sealord Occupational Health Nurse Anne Campbell.

“Many people commented on how well cared for they felt, so when we had so many sign up for flu jabs this year, it seemed a great idea to team up with them again.

“This is the first time they’ve been on site to do both the flu and Covid vaccinations and I’m very pleased with how well it went. While I’m able to give the flu vaccinations myself, I could never have helped so many people in one day and would have needed someone else to be working with me – either another nurse or a first aider – in case anyone needed extra assistance. The fact that they’re able to give both vaccinations is an added bonus.

“I’m just so grateful that they were able to come to help out.”

The team from Te Piki Oranga were also pleased with how the day worked.

“It’s just been awesome,” says Marissa Pou, Kano Kano Kaituitui (vaccinator/educator coordinator). “It’s really important to be able to provide a service like this for everyone because we are able to get to whānau at their place of work, and here at Sealord we have a significant number of Māori and Pasifika workers, so being able to reach them in their place of mahi is good for everyone.

“We were supported on the day too by Te Whatu Ora and Te Waka Hauora nurses. Anne from Sealord put together an amazing schedule and was able to send out information to people in advance, which helped with the flow of the day.”

Photo: Marissa Pou, Kano Kano Kaituitui (vaccinator/educator coordinator).

Hapori happenings

Community engagement

The annual 'Cops with Cakes' event in Whakatū is a whānau favourite, with interactive displays from the region's key community organisations.

Te Piki Oranga hosted an information stall at the 25 February event this year. We had great company, with stalls and activities also from Nelson Coastguard, Te Korowai Trust, Big Brothers Big Sisters, St John Ambulance, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Nelson Tasman Police (who put the 'cops' into 'Cops with Cake'!) among others.

The event was an invaluable opportunity for Te Piki Oranga to connect with our hapori whānui (community). And thanks to donations of Lego as prizes from Sam Currie from the Top of the South Brick Show, our stall was very appealing to whānau, as can be seen in these photos. Tau kē Sam!

Is your whānau prepared for an emergency?

The devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle in February serve as a reminder to assess things at home and check you have all you need to be ready for emergencies.

After the severe storms experienced by whānau in our own rohe, Te Tauihu, in August 2022, Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Trust developed an emergency plan template to help whānau prepare for the unexpected.

The Rautaki ā Whānau (Whānau Plan) is part of the Te Tauihu Emergency Management Strategy.
You can download a copy here.

Sit down with your whānau, make your own plan and pop it on the fridge so everyone knows where it is.

Nourishing ngahuru

By Brittani Beavis, Te Puna Kai Ora (Dietitian)

When the leaves are falling fast and we have put that extra blanket on the beds, we know we are well and truly into autumn, ngahuru.

As a dietitian, I love ngahuru for the kai grown and harvested in Te Tauihu, such as apples, pears, kiwifruit, leeks and courgettes, to name a few.

Nō reira, ngahuru is also the name for harvest, reminding me of the whakataukī: Ngahuru, kura kai, kura tangata (harvest-time, wealth of food, the wealth of people).

Kai ngahuru is rich in the vitamins and minerals that will help to boost your immunity in the lead-up to winter, when we are often more susceptible to catching colds and other viruses. And it’s not just fresh kai either – tinned, frozen and dried kai is full of goodness too!

Here is the run-down on some of the immunity-boosting vitamins and minerals we want to include in our diets:

Vitamin C

Get your daily dose of Vitamin C from oranges, kiwifruit, kumara and silverbeet. It helps to protect our bodies from damage caused by air pollution or too much sun. It doesn’t matter if it’s cooked, fresh, tinned or frozen – there is still lots of Vitamin C there! Vitamin C also has an added superpower of helping collagen production, which helps prevent wrinkles.

Vitamin D

A short amount of time (10-20mins) in sunshine is a nice way to get the Vitamin D you need for strong bones and the production of serotonin – a natural mood booster. In Te Tauihu we are blessed to still see sunshine in ngahuru, but you can also get your daily dose from kai, such as canned tuna and salmon, eggs and dairy products.

Zinc

Zinc is important for hair growth, a healthy immune system and wound healing and even taste. It is not as easy to get enough zinc from fruit and vegetables; try mussels, milk or lean steak. A peanut butter sandwich on wholegrain bread will give you a zinc boost as well.

B vitamins

Eat your leafy greens and you’ll benefit from some of the many different types of B vitamin that support our immunity. Watercress, silverbeet and spinach are rich in Vitamin B6 and very abundant in ngahuru. Round out the range of B-vitamins in your diet with meat and fish, wholegrains and nuts – porridge with almonds and apples, yum!

Kai time

Here is a link to recipes to get you inspired. The recipes are from the Love Food Hate Waste New Zealand website, that aims to reduce the tonnes of wasted kai that goes to landfill each year.

Brittani Beavis

Kōrero mai: meet our new guy!

Behind every frontline health and wellbeing team are kaimahi working to keep the wheels turning. Information technology (IT) is one of these essential supports.

In April 2023 Te Piki Oranga welcomed Mike Fulop to the Waimeha tari team, as Kaituitui Hangarau Whakāturanga, IT Coordinator.

Kia ora Mike, can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am married to Tracey, have four children and one cat and live fully off-grid on a farm in the Tasman region near Ngātīmoti. I grew up mainly in Auckland and moved to Nelson four years ago after my māmā passed away. Her passing was the catalyst for my journey of Taha Māori, tikanga and whakapapa, and I am looking forward to continuing that journey with Te Piki Oranga.

Ko Mangatawhiri Te Maunga

Ko Te Tai Tamahine Te Moana

Ko Te Arawa Te Waka

Ko Ngāti Hei Te Iwi

Ko Te Rā Matiti Marae

Nō Hauraki Ahau

Ko Mike Fulop toku ingoa

How did you get to be where you are today?

I was exposed to IT early on in my career as a draughtsman and was captivated by the IT in that job. So I applied for an IT admin role, which basically meant I changed floppy disks (remember those?) and organised the printer paper. Thus, my career in IT was launched!

I progressed into application development as I was fascinated in creating computer programs and moved into hardware as an IT support technician because I liked to build and fix machines. Combining the two skills lead me to become a computer engineer then the opportunity to manage people like me presented itself and I became a manager.

After moving to Nelson I worked two seasons in the hops industry and then two years in the NZ Customs Service. My love of IT and the opportunity to work for Te Piki Oranga with their inspirational values and commitment to kaimahi cultural capability drew me back and I’m excited to be a part of this whānau.

How does your mahi line up with the Te Piki Oranga kitenga – Me whakahaumanu te mana o te whānau a, ka haere whakamua (Revitalise whānau for their future)?

My job is one of service to Te Piki Oranga. By exploring what works for our kaimahi, reducing the technological challenges, and improving processes and tools, I can help our kaimahi focus on their core roles of working with our whānau.

What is something that people might not know or appreciate about the kind of mahi you do?

Even with the best laid plans, things fail, and usually at the worst time! For instance, the other day the video conferencing equipment, that had been working perfectly ok, decided to fail minutes before an important meeting – so trying to fix it and remain calm while all eyes are on you is one of the many different challenges we face.

Diagnosing an IT issue can be difficult but also funny. One time a computer kept crashing during the evening and all attempts at diagnosis failed. We swapped out the machine but the issue carried on!

Eventually we set up a camera and discovered that the cleaner would come in at night and pull out the computer plug to connect the vacuum cleaner which solved the mystery.

Is ‘health IT’ a thing?

Definitely! Health IT or health information technology is the use of a broad range of technologies in health and healthcare, which includes the secure storage and retrieval of clinical data, and the exchange of health information in an electronic environment.

Is IT a good career for rangatahi to be thinking about?

Yes, IT offers multiple career paths and opportunities with new technologies constantly being developed and adopted. It is our rangatahi, who will be at the forefront of these advances both in their development and use, and it is their young and agile minds that will transport us along with them to places we have yet to imagine.

Any final thoughts?

In all my years of mahi in the IT space the most important aspect I have learnt is he tāngata, he tāngata. This applies to IT in the way IT supports people to do their jobs and this can apply to IT – "IT is the people, IT is the people".

To me, thinking about IT in this way is fundamental to how we should approach IT in relation to our whānau.

Manu Ora – going beyond traditional healthcare

Manu Ora is a Wairau primary healthcare team, established in August 2021 as a registered charity and joint venture between Te Piki Oranga and Nuku Health.

Manu Ora refers to the bird taking flight having achieved hauora (wellbeing) and in December 2022 an independent evaluation assessed the ways in which this unique kaupapa Māori primary healthcare service in Wairau is achieving its goals.

One of the clear themes from the evaluation report is that Manu Ora goes beyond traditional healthcare. Examples include:

• Giving more time to whānau. A much-higher ratio of clinicians to patients, compared to other practices, means more time with whānau and longer, more flexible appointments.

• Helping whānau into housing, providing kai (pātaka) and improving access to care with free transport, appointments and home visits

• Offering an extended programme for taha hinengaro (mental health) and wraparound services for vulnerable hapū māmā and pēpi in their first 1,000 days.

• Allocating daily time to collaborate with community agencies, schools and other healthcare providers. Manu Ora is a qualified teaching practice for medical and nursing ākonga.

• Easing the pressure. Effective, early intervention before whānau become seriously unwell has led to less presentations to ED and urgent care.

• Te Ao Māori values and tikanga underpin all models of care. Kaimahi embed Te Whare Tapa Whā principles from the start of their kōrero with whānau.

Feedback

The evaluation report gives voice to compelling feedback from whānau, kaimahi and governance stakeholders. Here are some examples:

“My first consult shocked me...time was taken to look into my whole hauora, my whare tapa whā, my haerenga. They were all considered and acknowledged with respect and kindness. I felt like I could be who I am as a Māori. I felt heard.” (whānau comment)

“She explains everything, not in doctors' terms, but it in a way we can understand.” (whānau comment)

“They take the time, and they listen and observe; they already know you because they have read the notes and heard your story, not just what you're in for.” (whānau comment)

“Eye opening. In practice previously we might have seen someone once, but they don't come back and deal with some of the underlying chronic issues. But to have people come back and trust us with their health journey has been pretty cool.” (Manu Ora kaimahi comment)

“We can definitely see it having an effect. The emergency department-type maladies are being addressed earlier...we would have lost four or five people given their chronic conditions and would have had more people in hospital…with a lot of people I think that actually seeing a doctor gives people a sense of something. Makes people feel that they’re on their way to getting better.” (Te Piki Oranga kaimahi comment)

“I do not know how it would have gone without the [Te Piki Oranga] partnership. They help with the financial management and are aware of our finances. We got [name removed] to help with the strategy day and she is now the co-chair of the IMPB. Pleased the collaboration is so strong.” (Manu Ora governance comment)

Read the evaluation report highlights document here

Cultural capability set to soar with Tuku Te Rere

Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu – a bird is adorned with its plumage in order that it may take flight

This Te Piki Oranga whakatakanga is embodied in the new kaimahi cultural capability development programme Tuku Te Rere.

Carl Baker, Pou Taki and tātāriki of Tuku Te Rere, was pleased to launch the programme at te tari o Whakatū on 19 January. Wairau kaimahi were next to start Tuku Te Rere, closely followed by Wairau, Motueka and Waimeha. Most recently, Tuku Te Rere was introduced to the primary care team at Manu Ora in Wairau.

“All have begun their journeys to increase their cultural capability along the continuum of learning. Learning progresses in a stepped scale shaped around the concept of a manu as it grows from a hatchling in its cultural infancy, to a young bird and then a more competent fledgling before becoming a manu tāiko – as a cultural proficient guardian,” Carl says.

Tuku Te Rere is part of te anga āheitanga ahurea, the Te Piki Oranga cultural capability framework.

Once kaimahi complete the cultural assessment, a cultural capability development plan is agreed with their supervisor or manager.

Carl says that kaimahi are given time and resources, to ensure they can meet the critical success factors that will pinpoint, how kaimahi will collectively achieve Te Piki Oranga pae tawhiti – organisational goals. These include: 

• Te reo me ōna tikanga

• Rautaki (strategy)

• Te Tiriti o Waitangi

• Māori models of health

Learning continues outside of work and kaimahi are encouraged to invest their own time on their journey.

“As kaimahi progress along the four stages, the meaning of traditional rituals like karakia, waiata and mihi whakatau and attending tangi is revealed, in the sense of why these things are essential to know in a kaupapa Māori health service,” Carl says.

“The practice of tuakana/teina and active learning where learning is reciprocal between teacher and student is an ‘organic’ learning process. But the trick is to think ‘whakaaro Māori’ first and then put that thought process into a bi-cultural framework.”

One of the huruhuru, (planned actions) towards te reo me ōna tikanga goal, is access to te reo classes. This is now underway with kaimahi starting Te Ataarangi lessons in mid-March and reporting positive experiences of the programme.

“Learning te reo Māori with a method that is all about working as a whānau and helping each other is a bonus, especially as kaimahi.

“We have kaimahi well-versed in te reo sitting with kaimahi beginning their journey, embracing the Mahi a Atua principle ‘Ka mā te ariki, tauira, ka mā te tauira’ that is about being an active learner. This principle encourages us to be responsive to each other and to our environment,” Carl says.

Te Ataarangi is complementary to the kaupapa of Tuke Te Rere – and to the Te Piki Oranga kitenga and whakatakanga.

“Our kitenga – vison – is to have culturally capable kaimahi providing an exemplary kaupapa Māori service to whānau, hapū and iwi of Te Tauihu o te waka-a-Māui.

“We want to ensure the pūkenga (skills) in a Māori paradigm can be drawn upon to meet the needs of whānau – in their homes, in our clinics, on marae. So that Māori feel their time with Te Piki Oranga is tika (correct), genuine and sincere.”

Te Piki Oranga kaimahi (Whakatū)

Manu Ora kaimahi

He tirohanga mai i te kaimahi

Karen MacDonald, Pūkenga Manaaki, has completed the first stage – Manu Pūhouhou (hatchling).

She is now firmly on her te reo Māori journey and aspires to kōrero more confidently by the end of the year. Reflecting on the kaupapa of Tuku Te Rere, Karen says it is important that kaimahi are competent and capable in tikanga Māori.

“So we understand the meanings of whānaungatanga, rangatiratanga, manaakitanga – all the ‘tanga’! And so as a rōpū can support our whānau in a te ao Māori environment, not just in a clinical space.

Karen says that it is also important for kaimahi to “have an actual knowledge of tangata whenua, ‘korero ki te korero’.”

Hana Randall, Pūkenga Manaaki in adult mental health, has also completed the Manu Pūhouhou stage. She is now set to continue learning te reo at NMIT as well as during her worktime with Te Ataarangi.

“I want to try continue with as many wānanga Māori where I can continue my learning journey in my own time.

“Tuku Te Rere is going to keep me tika and pono in my learning journey and with what I should already be doing working in a kaupapa Māori space,” Hana says.

“If we are not competent and capable, then why are we serving as a kaupapa Māori service? We should be living by Tikanga every day and learning as we can.”

Mō Mātou: Te Ataarangi

 Te Ataarangi is a programme for adult Māori language learning developed in the late 1970's by Dr Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira and Ngoingoi Pewhairangi.

It is modelled on a learning method developed by Caleb Gattegno, which uses cuisenaire rods (rākau) and spoken language. His methodology was further developed to incorporate Māori values and customs, and Te Ataarangi was born.

Thousands of adults have learned to speak te reo Māori in Te Ataarangi classes, with Te Piki Oranga kaimahi starting their Te Ataarangi journey this year.

Rākau rods being used by Te Piki Oranga kaimahi in a Te Ataarangi class

Here to help you recover from COVID-19

COVID-19 cases are on the rise in our rohe

Te Piki Oranga urges whānau to register any positive COVID-19 results so that they have quick access to healthcare, antiviral medication and other essential support.

At any time, we are here to guide you, phone 080 672 642 (option 1).

Where to get healthcare advice over the Christmas break

Taking the time to get strategic

 Taking the time to get strategic

A Te Piki Oranga Strategic Plan hui in November was a welcome return to the kaimahi development calendar after disruptions in the past two years due to COVID-19.

 Held at the Hedingly Centre in Waimeha (Richmond), the hui was an opportunity for kaimahi to put their everyday mahi to one side for a while and focus on the big picture.

 “The day was about where we are at and where we are going, in terms of our strategic plan, and a chance to ask questions and give feedback,” says Rachelle Tauroa, Te Ata Pūao Establishment Co-ordinator.

 Guest speaker Riana Manuel, Chief Executive Officer at Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority, joined the hui by video conference. Another highlight was a presentation from Te Piki Oranga Management Team members Lorraine Staunton and Carl Baker about service Delivery wānanga held this year.

 “We also had a ‘speed dating session’ with the Board of Directors and some of our head office management team. This was a fun way for kaimahi to get to know our leaders a little better, and ask any burning questions,” Rachelle says.

Less barriers to healthcare can lead to lifechanging results

Less barriers to healthcare can lead to life-changing results

A little manaakitanga – kindness – goes a long way when it comes to encouraging wāhine Māori to take steps towards better health outcomes.

For the Mana Wāhine clinics run by Te Piki Oranga, this kindness comes in the form of free transport, an alternative home visit, or the kind of kōrero about a procedure that you won’t get in a routine 15-minute GP appointment. And with the support of Sealord in a unique Te Tauihu partnership, the manaakitanga can flow a little more freely.

As the leading provider of kaupapa Māori health and wellbeing services in Te Tauihu (top of the South Island), Te Piki Oranga reduces inequitable health outcomes by providing high-quality and accessible services that are consistent with the concepts of whānau ora and tino rangatiratanga (self-reliance and independence).

The Mana Wāhine clinics are one of many innovative approaches Te Piki Oranga takes, that place whānau at the centre of care. Lorraine Staunton, Kaiwhakahaere Ratonga, Service Delivery and Operations Manager, is looking forward to seeing the seeds sown during the clinics start to bear fruit in the months that follow.

“One of the main reasons we need Mana Wāhine is to improve cervical screening rates and reduce inequities for wāhine in our rohe. Some women are 15 years overdue for their screening through no fault of their own – sometimes it just takes a little manaakitanga to help overcome barriers to healthcare.

“We will offer transport, a ‘no obligations’ conversation with a nurse or we will take our mobile screening service to a woman at home where she feels less worried or scared about the procedure,” Lorraine says.

With more than 350 wāhine Māori in Te Tauihu due or overdue for cervical screening at the time of the first clinic in September, Te Piki Oranga made a critical difference by supporting 40 wāhine to be screened on the day or booked for another time. At the second clinic in December, 40 women were screened and four booked for screening at another time.

“Mana Wāhine goes deeper than screening however, and our time with wāhine is valuable so we also take the opportunity to check for other unmet health needs.”

The December clinic proved an invaluable conversation starter about health and wellbeing. Wāhine, and in some cases their tamariki, were referred to services including: breast and bowel cancer screening, Stop Smoking Services, counselling, immunisation, Well Child Tamariki Ora nursing, social workers, midwifery services and more.

“The benefits from a holistic, one-stop approach like this can continue for months after a clinic – and that’s what we aim for in healthcare,” Lorraine says.

Te Piki Oranga has been able to cover travel costs for whānau with funding support from Sealord – a partnership that fits with the seafood company’s ethos of putting people first, says Sealord CEO Doug Paulin.

 “Sealord is half-owned by Māori and 15 per cent of our employees are Māori,” Doug says. “It’s important to us to support our people’s whānau and their communities, and this is making a real difference.”

The three-year agreement improves access to healthcare for whānau and also means that Te Piki Oranga kaimahi do not have to take as much time away from their main mahi to drive whānau to important appointments. 

Lorraine says that Sealord’s support is helping to bridge a critical gap.

“Achieving better equity in healthcare starts with reducing barriers where we can – even more vital during a cost-of-living crisis where some whānau are prioritising paying the grocery bill over their own healthcare needs.

“When you need to attend a dialysis appointment three times a week, and rely on taxi transport to get there, this can be hugely stressful.

“With Sealord’s support we are able to strengthen and empower whānau for better health outcomes,” she says.

Lorraine says the collaboration between Te Tauihu health and social services made the kaupapa a success. Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu contributed iwi liaison support, and kai for the Christmas kai hampers. Nelson Bays Primary Health Organisation’s Director of Nursing Bobby Hutton supported the cervical smear team. Te Whatu Ora Public Health contributed with health promotion activities and National Cervical Screening Team support. And Countdown Stoke gifted a $100 grocery voucher for a prize draw.

Sealord CEO Doug Paulin and Te Piki Oranga Tumuaki (General Manager) Anne Hobby

Photos from the December Mana Wāhine clinic

Clockwise from the top left photo:

• Kaimahi Amber Ford and Miraka Norgate

• Kaimahi ready to greet wāhine to the clinic

• Kaimahi with Kirihimete whānau packs to welcome wāhine to the clinic

• Wāhine were offered vouchers for a coffee break during the clinic from Baba Yaga’s coffee cart.

Reflecting on the past year with the 2021-2022 annual report

The Te Piki Oranga annual report for 2021-2022 year is available to read online, or download and print.

The annual report includes:

• insightful forewords from Chairperson Jane de Feu and Tumuaki Anne Hobby

• Board of Directors’ karere

• photographs of the Te Piki Oranga management team

• enrolment and service highlights

• whānau demographics

• kaimahi development and highlights

• hauora Māori partnership success stories

• financial reports

• auditor’s reports

You can find the annual report here.

Mana Wāhine clinic success

Mana Wāhine clinic success

More than 350 wāhine Māori in Te Tauihu are either due or overdue for their cervical smear check, something that Te Piki Oranga has set out to address.

With the support of Nelson Bays Primary Health, Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough Public Health, Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu, the Cancer Society, Sealord, and Te Whatu Ora, Te Piki Oranga held a one-day screening clinic in Whakatū called ‘Mana Wahine’ in late September.

The ‘by wahine for wahine’ clinic provided a safe and comfortable space for wāhine to get their cervical screening and to get support for other health concerns. 40 wāhine were screened, 11 were booked for another time and more than 80 per cent of all participants were wāhine Māori.

Conversations about other health concerns led to multiple referrals for services such as breast screening, endoscopy, Healthy Homes, B4 School Checks (for tamariki), navigation support for Oranga Tamariki and Te Hā quit smoking services. Dr Ricki-lea Aitchison, a Māori GP from Mapua Health attended the event to answer wāhiin pātai and concerns pertaining to the smear or other issues.

Transportation was provided, as some wāhine travelled from Te Hora Pa, Motueka, and Brightwater, and each wahine was gifted vouchers and a generous kai pack upon leaving.

The uptake and feedback from those that attended the day was very positive and planning is underway for the next Mana Wāhine event in November.

Special thanks to our health partners and sponsors for helping to make this event a success. 

Awhi aplenty for flood-affected whanau

Awhi aplenty for flood-affected whanau

Lorraine Staunton, Kaiwhakahaere Ratonga (Service Delivery and Operations Manager) managed Te PIki Oranga’s response during the worst of the severe weather event in Te Tauihu in late August.

Lorraine coordinated the team as they placed 1,336 calls to whānau who were evacuating or potentially affected by flooding.

Anne Hobby, Tumuaki (General Manager) checking in with whānau

The first step was to know who to call, made easier with the support of Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand - Nelson Marlborough data analysts who provided maps indicating the location of whānau in flooded areas.

"We were provided with lists so that we could call our whānau who were enrolled or had previously been enrolled,” Lorraine explains. “We had a team working for four days making calls, right through the weekend. We had a team in Wairau, Motueka, and Whakatū. We wanted to provide the lists by region because our people know those areas geography-wise because the questions they might get from whānau would be more common to them.

“Often whānau were being called at the time they were actually packing to evacuate so we talked through their plans and saw if they needed some support that we could offer them. For example, they’d say, ‘we’re going to our mum’s. There’s five of us, our mum’s got a little place and no food.’ We were able to have food ready for them by the time they got to their mum’s. They were just really relieved, it was one thing they didn’t have to worry about.”

Closed roads, increased traffic, and heavy rains meant that many were unable to go to pharmacies for time-sensitive, specialised medications. To combat this, Te Piki Oranga sought emergency authorisation to be able to collect medications on behalf of whānau by working with doctors and pharmacists.

To deliver medication and kai, Te Piki Oranga contacted Civil Defence and provided them with the specific needs of each whānau. If the household was in a closed-off area, kai and medication would be delivered via helicopter. However, having that initial first contact with a familiar organisation meant a lot to those who received the calls.

“A lot of it was reassurance and psycho-social support that we were able to give them over the phone. We made it clear we were coming from a health response, but we were able to connect them to the other support that they may require, like Civil Defence.”

For longer-term, less immediate kai needs, Te Piki Oranga referred whānau to the charitable organisation Te Pātaka, food banks, or other relevant service providers.

In addition to providing immediate support, the calls were a good chance for Te Piki Oranga to connect with whānau who had not been enrolled for a while and had new health needs.

Brenda McQuillan, CAMHS

“Other conversations that came out of the calls were in regards to other health worries they had. They had us on the phone already so they were able to say ‘hey, I’m really worried about my teenager,’ for example, and we were able to refer them to our CAMHS team for follow-up.

“The reconnection was really good. People were grateful for the calls – ‘oh man, you guys are cool, thank you for thinking about us.’”

In addition to directly calling whānau, Te Piki Oranga also kept in touch with the community via their social media channels during the worst of the weather event. Kairukuruku Whakapā (Communications & Telehealth Co-ordinator) Grayson Nepia stayed on through the weekend, pushing out details on hand hygiene, road closures, and boil water advisories. To these messages, Grayson added Te Reo and the friendly tone their audience is familiar with.

Lorraine says that going forward the flood response experience “added to the knowledge for our kaimahi that there will be fallout from the flood response in regards to the continued support that is needed. This morning, I sent an email out to our staff about the pharmacy closures and short staff so that they are aware of the challenges whānau will have. It’s not just the flood, it’s obviously sickness as well that’s caused changes in the community.

“Going forward we’re continuously informing our staff to be able to inform whānau they are working with about any updates or services that could be valuable and needed to provide support.

“I am really proud of our organisation for stepping up and doing what they needed to do at such short notice and between our COVID response and all of the other high-needs things that we do. I’m proud that we were able to respond the way we did. It was a great collaborative approach to supporting whānau in this time of need.”

Realising potential: A CAMHS success story

Realising potential: A CAMHS success story

By John Hart – Wairau CAMHS/Mental Health Navigator

 Little did I know on first meeting with this young blue eyed blonde hair cheeky Māori boy what an impact and how he would grow on me.

My first memory of him is while playing basketball was that he wanted to punch me in the face I roared at him "surely in gest” he just looked back at me confused.

We played basketball twice a week sometimes for 3 hours a day, one v one B-ball so he could claw back some of the points I would fluke against him. Little did he know at the time from early on I could see he had determination but no focus or work ethic towards training.

He had fallen through the cracks of mainstream education system with very little to no chance of getting back in the school gates. In his own words lately, he was just in need of some structure and routine and for others to just understand how he processed everything.

From an Xbox influenced lifestyle of Grand Theft Auto and bad choice of mates he started out in boxing and basketball to establish direction and focus. He started in alternative education program after being out of school for a couple of years and not fitting in mainstream system. he participated with Dawn Chorus in Picton as well as mentoring at Te Piki Oranga. He trained 4 to 5 times a week at Kai Toa Gym/boxing gym as well as weights at the gorilla pit at the stadium plus regular 5 km runs. He then jumped headfirst into the cactus program winning a trophy for being positive having leadership skills as well as encouraging others among other qualities.

He had started to mature and not needing to follow like before, becoming a leader amongst his peers. He now understood it's not about making people like him to make friends .It was about liking himself and becoming the best version of himself in the knowledge that others will like him too. With new career path choice and a heavy training regime and new goals he had found his new groove. 

A new boxing coach additional positive mentors and support from whanau and new friends in his life. With new life experiences and goals and playing Basketball with a passion he walked onto the court with a red top on ,once upon a time that would never have happened as red was a forbidden word in his vocabulary. This was the moment when I thought he had reached the pinnacle and things couldn't get better. We played basketball on a Wednesday night with a loose collection of kids who like the game didn't have much to do mid-week. He walked onto the court like a Giant with the glow of an NBA player.

Learning to dive and hunt, shooting a deer, nutrition advice, shredding pounds to make weight ready for his first fight in the ring. From that date on and clocking up another 4 fights and 5 silvers later. His next goals are to finish the dingle foundation program this year and join the military next year 2023.

He has come a long way from fight club to a role model, we are all proud of him.

He Tangata

By Emani Soane, He Tangata kaitiaki (driving instructor)

For the last two years I have been able to take whānau for their driving lessons in the evenings and during the weekends. I was very fortunate enough last year to get my endorsement to become a qualified driving instructor with the support of Te Piki Oranga and Nelson Police.

Since being involved in our mentoring programme, it has been solely focused on supporting whānau to pass their restricted licence and full licence. Our programme now offers a Road Code Support programme for the learner's licence as part of the He Tangata mentoring programme.

The true strength of our He Tangata driving programme comes from all our whānau who have participated in the programme.

Our lessons have ranged from full of laughter, high blood-pressure moments to the occasional near-accident. We've had a few tangi moments, whānau wanting to walk out, and whānau carrying a lot of mamae.

By using Kaupapa Māori/Pasifika flavour to the lesson, whānau come to an understanding of the road rules when operating the waka, gaining confidence and taking pride in themselves. There is the opening up of employment opportunities for whānau, the privilege of listening to whānau kōrero about their life journey.

We tautoko whānau to access other Te Piki Oranga health services, share kai, walk alongside whānau when test results haven't gone our way and most importantly sharing in the celebration when our whānau pass their test.

Since the start of the year we have had 140 participants (84 Māori, 33 Pasifika, 14 European and 9 ‘unknown’), 191 lessons and 70 tests booked.

I would like to acknowledge all our Te Piki Oranga kaimahi that support our whānau and give them the extra push, encouraging them engage and show up for their lesson. A big thank you to Rachelle our administrator who books tests, orders birth certificates, keeps an eye on my calendar, sorts our referrals and all the background mahi she does.