Team eye health goals

WELCOME: Powhiri for new Whanau Ora Wairarapa team at Te Rangimarie Marae. From left: Andre Le Geyt, pouwhakahaere, programme manager; Pania Haruru, pouarataki, team leader; Francis McNally-Te Maari, kaituitui; Hera Edwards, kaituitui; Mariana Mutu, kaiwhiriwhiri, data analysis; Kelly Maungatai; Shelley Grace; Aaron Awa and Jason Paku, kaituitui. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Four key Wairarapa organisations celebrated an historic moment on Monday.

The new Whanau Ora Wairarapa team was welcomed at a powhiri at Te Rangimarie Marae.

As part of the Government's Whanau Ora scheme, the collective group has been given funding for the next few years creating nine jobs, said Jason Kerehi, CEO of iwi Rangitane o Wairarapa.

The collaboration is among health and support providers Te Hauora Runanga o Wairarapa, Whaiora Whanui Trust and iwis Rangitane o Wairarapa and Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa.

"For the last three years we have been working together but as separate units," said Mr Kerehi.

"This is the final piece of the puzzle."

Mr Kerehi said the first round of funding went to larger areas and now it was Wairarapa's turn.

"They saw the potential.

"Wairarapa has always been targeted as a place that needs more help, we are filling the gap.

"Amongst us all we can cover a lot more. The end goal is that we become a much better provider."

Tai Gemmell, general manager for Hauora, said the aim was for all the organisations to be more effective in delivering services to the whole community.

"It's been two-and-a-half years in the making, in the past we've [the four organisations] been working in isolation, but we have been crossing paths."

The team of nine includes Andre Le Geyt, programme manager, Pania Haruru, team leader, Mariana Mutu, data analysis, and kaituitui Kelly Maungatai, Shelley Grace, Aaron Awa, Jason Paku, Francis McNally-Te Maari and Hera Edwards.

The kaituitui, which means "to sew", will be on the frontline helping families.

Mr Kerehi said all six have different skills and backgrounds and a link to Wairarapa.

"There's a couple of teachers, someone who's worked with gangs in Palmerston North, people that work with children.

"They will go out and help whanau, all the things whanau need a hand in."

For example, they may act as an advocate in court, he said.

"But it's not just the ones in trouble, it's for the ones that need a hand too."

He said the Whanau Ora team will be able to help all families, not just Maori.

Whanau Ora is a Government-led health initiative based on Maori cultural values, focusing on families and communities rather than just the individual.