Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is here (26th
November – 2nd October) and Hapai Te Hauora is excited to
present this year’s rendition of Whitiora – ‘Whare o
Whitiora’.
‘Whare o Whitiora’ will continue to
act as a guide for whānau in their “pursuit of eternal
wellbeing” by providing tools and resources to nurture their
five pou o Whitiora – wairua, ngākau, hinengaro, tinana and
whānau. The overall theme for MHAW this year is to
‘reconnect – to people and places that whakapiki wairua.
In its essence, ‘Whare o Whitiora’ embodies reconnection
as it provides the opportunity to restore, revitalise, and
reconnect whānau Māori with te ao Māori practices as they
navigate their journey to toiora – an optimal state of
well-being.
Selah Hart, CEO of Hāpai Te Hauora, says
“Whare o Whitiora reminds us that our tīpuna left
blueprints behind to secure the oranga of generations of uri
whakaheke and they served us well for hundreds of years
before we were indoctrinated into and measured against
Western models of health. Our whanau, hapū, iwi and hapori
Māori have the right to experience Whitiora in accordance
with mātauranga derived from their own
world-view”.
Current statistics shows Aotearoa as
being in the midst of a mental health crisis, highlighting
the need for indigenous approaches to mental health and
wellbeing that emphasises the importance of tikanga Māori,
enhancing cultural identity and utilising Māori health
principles when designing and delivering services. ‘Whare
o Whitiora’ was designed to ensure we are closing these
gaps and meeting the needs of Māori by accentuating a model
of care that encompasses and reflects te ao
Māori.
Public Health Advisor, Nakisha Tau says, “In
our approach to the delivery of Whare o Whitiora, as a
collective, the overarching goal is to increase the
opportunities whānau have to experience Toiora.
Unfortunately, many of our whānau have long been denied
access to our traditional systems of wellbeing, we hope
Whare o Whitiora can shelter whānau to optimise their
health and wellbeing.”
The ‘Whare o Whitiora’
campaign comprises three elements – an online campaign,
whānau packs and a wānanga. The online campaign will
feature videos from community leaders and those with lived
experience. Additionally, social media campaign will capture
key messaging around how we can embody the pou o Whitiora.
This year’s whānau packs contain resources and activities
that facilitate connection to ngā pou e rima o Whitiora.
Lastly, the wānanga will be held on Sunday 2nd of October
where through the mātauranga shared by our kaikōrero, we
will examine the many facets of wairua.
To tune into
our Whare o Whitiora Wānanga, visit the Hāpai te Hauora Facebook
Event Page at 4pm on October
2nd.
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