A three-day conference is being held in Rotorua this month to focus on suicide prevention.
Turamarama ki te Ora has been organised by Te Runanga o Ngati Pikiao Trust, with the main focus on traditional Maori practices that can be used to support children from birth through to adulthood, and the importance in helping prevent suicide and suicidal behaviour.
Michael Naera, the trust's project leader for Kia Piki te Ora, the Ministry of Health's national Maori suicide prevention programme, said the conference was iwi-initiated and targeted not only Maori practitioners but anyone who had a keen interest in suicide prevention.
"We have some community interest groups, providers, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, psychologists of all cultures registered to attend. So far there is 150 registered but we expect a flurry of interest this week and estimate about 200 to attend," Mr Naera said.
"Te Runanga o Ngati Pikiao Trust felt that we're focused too much on deaths and so this conference is held to put more emphasis more on hope and prevention.
