Music therapy aims to help locals with special needs

Hinewehi Mohi, with her daughter Hineraukatauri Mohi, and husband George Bradfield at Hineraukatauri's 21st birthday on Saturday. Photo / Paul Taulor

A Hawke's Bay woman with cerebral palsy, who celebrated her 21st birthday on Saturday, has inspired a music therapy centre to open in the region.

Hineraukatauri Mohi, daughter of New Zealand singer Hinewehi Mohi, was born with severe cerebral palsy with a slim chance of surviving to adulthood.

However, she overcame many challenges associated with her condition and shared her 21st birthday with more than 100 family and friends at Mihiroa Marae on Saturday.

Her mother, Hinewehi, said a big part of Hineraukatauri's success has been her involvement in music therapy.

This led her to create the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre in Auckland in 2005 to help others with special needs.

The family relocated to Hawke's Bay last year and plans are underway to open a branch of the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre in the region.

"We're ready to spread our wings . . . and grow the services to help people with special needs express themselves," Hinewehi said.

"We hope to be able to share it with as many people as we can."

While there were already several music therapists in the region they were fully booked and the demand was exceeding the supply.

"We hope to employ some additional music therapists and talk to existing music therapists that live here," she said.

"Once we've set up a good base we'll be able to get things going.

"Music therapy is a wonderful way of giving people an opportunity to engage with others and to express themselves."

Hinewehi was born in Waipukurau and moved her family back to Hawke's Bay from Auckland in October last year.

"When we realised our daughter wasn't needing the special care quite so much we decided to make the shift home."

Being able to celebrate Hineraukatauri's 21st birthday on Saturday meant a lot to Hinewehi considering the struggles her daughter has had to overcome.

Early years with Hineraukatauri were difficult with her having trouble breathing and eating and suffering seizures.

"It's a big celebration for our daughter because she was born with incredible challenges . . . to think now that she's 21 and she's very well and strong," Hinewehi said.

"I feel so honoured to have had this wonderful daughter who has taught us so much and continues to inspire our lives.

"She is a very strong character and a wonderful person that has touched so many people in so many ways."

Music therapy derives from the belief that the ability to respond to sound and music is an inherent quality in all humans regardless of disability or circumstances.

Through music therapy people have been able to make gains in many areas of their lives including improving motor skills and speech, growing their self-confidence and self-awareness, strengthening social skills and improving memory, behaviour, and concentration.