Ana Apatu: View from Flaxmere opens up

Ana Apatu.

I begin my first attempt at writing a column for Hawke's Bay Today - something I consider a great opportunity.

During my first briefing meeting with Andrew Austin, the editor of HB Today, I was told to "just write from your heart, Ana". And it was during that initial conversation that Andrew hesitated, looked at me across the table and commented: "You look very nervous."

Ah, terrified would be a more suitable description when imagining having to produce 700 words every week, and the thought of nearly 60,000 readers critiquing, reading, rejecting or possibly being entertained by what was to come.

But this presents such an opportunity to share stories, particularly about the community of Flaxmere.

I would like to begin by acknowledging Jacoby Poulain, whose shoes I fill in this case - leaving behind followers of this article she built up over the past couple of years.

Okay let's start with an introduction. My name is Ana Apatu, of Ngati Kahungunu descent. I reside on my family farm (turangawaewae) in the district of Pukehamoamoa, on a 2.5ha block with my two dogs, and a visiting horse. My "lifestyle" includes living off the grid with a pretty sophisticated solar system. My career background is in health. I began my health career by completing a diploma in nursing at what was then the Manawatu Polytechnic, Palmerston North.

During my training I remember some nurses branding us as the "book nurses", because of the shift from traditional hospital-based nursing to polytechnic-based nursing. That training provided me with a wider perspective on well-being and health.

At the time some of the classes included what seemed quite wacky activities such as observing, smelling and touching things in the environment, observing environmental health. However, that early introduction to public health then led to my interest and study progressing towards a postgraduate diploma in public health.

Public health or population health focuses on things that keep us well. These influences or determinants of health that promote wellness often lie outside the responsibility of the heath sector. For example, we know from research that a warm, dry home prevents visits to the doctor and prevents hospital admissions. It therefore makes absolute sense to insulate all houses to ensure families stay well and to save our limited health funding.

The subject of housing is particularly pertinent to Flaxmere. Clinicians working with children in Flaxmere will describe how they can draw a line where children's health deteriorates in different areas of the community because of substandard housing. But more on that later.

In January I stepped out of the corporate office of the Hawke's Bay District Health Board to be based at Te Aranga Marae, Flaxmere, as chief executive of the U-Turn Trust. I take instruction from some big thinkers, Rex Graham, Tracee Te Huia, Taine Randell and Lawrence Yule as trustees. The trust aims to provide financial and political support to Henare and Pam O'Keefe to improve the well-being of Flaxmere.

Henare describes my role as "the detail behind the tsunami". I sit next to Pam and have the privilege of witnessing the day-to-day activity of the marae.

It is my intention to share stories of the Te Aranga Marae Flaxmere community, and what we aim to achieve through our U-Turn projects.

Many of us have little knowledge of poverty and the challenges some families face daily.

I would like to finish with this quote from Nelson Mandela, "Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom."

Ana Apatu will write a weekly column for Hawke's Bay Today replacing Jacoby Poulain. Ana is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere .