Turanga Health and Meningitis Foundation launch bilingual colouring book for kids

Turanga Health manager Dallas Poi (left) and Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand chairman Gerard Rushton with copies of the te reo/English 'Te Pukapuka Kiriuhi Uakaka, The Meningitis Foundation Colouring Book'. Photo / Wynsley Wrigley

Turanga Health and the Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand have joined forces to publish a colouring book.

But the book, which is in both te reo Māori and English, has a serious purpose in aiming to educate parents and increase immunisation rates, particularly among Māori and Pacific children, aged up to 6 years of age.

The book is titled Te Pukapuka Kiriuhi Uakaka, The Meningitis Foundation Colouring Book.

The publication tells the story of Peepe the butterfly who meets young Kiwis on his adventurous travels and shows them how vaccines can help protect them from meningitis, just like a raincoat keeps you warm and dry, and sunscreen stops your nose from getting sunburnt.

The book will be used by health providers and community groups across the country to encourage vaccination and educate parents on the importance of protecting their whānau.

World Meningitis Day is Saturday, October 5.

Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand chairman Gerard Rushton says 20 people in New Zealand have died from this vaccine-preventable disease over the past five years.

There have been 44 cases of meningococcal disease in New Zealand, and one death, so far in 2024.

So far this year, the highest number of New Zealand cases has been reported from the Auckland region (36%) followed by Northland, Waikato and Lakes (Rotorua).

Hutt Valley, Southland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury and the West Coast have also recorded cases in 2024.

There have been no Tairāwhiti cases, according to Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) data for the January to August period.

“While it’s good to see widened access to the meningococcal B vaccine since 2023, we are still concerned to see other vulnerable groups, such as Māori and Pacific Island infants and adolescents, being left behind,” said Rushton.

New Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) data shows despite a 35% fall in the total number of meningococcal disease cases from January 1 to July 31, 2024, compared to the same period prior, Māori infants and toddlers remain at a higher risk of the disease.

Māori make up 36% of meningococcal disease cases so far this year and three-quarters of the eight cases aged under 5 years were Māori, making it the highest number of any age group.

Turanga Health CEO Reweti Ropiha says vaccination rates are too low in the region and the te reo translated colouring book would help create a great whānau experience when community health teams visit marae, kura, kōhanga reo and hapū māmā wānanga.

“Tackling the immunisation barrier in Tairāwhiti is about connecting with people in the right environment, and in the right way by those with lived experience.”

Turanga Health manager Dallas Poi said the organisation was working in the field of whānau immunisation when approached by Rushton.

“So, it was a no-brainer to partner with the meningitis foundation.

“Childhood immunisation was on our radar.”