A landmark partnership between iwi and Māori health
providers – including Te Arawa Lakes Trust – is another
step forward in designing and delivering equitable health
outcomes for Te Arawa whānau.
Called Taki O Autahi,
the partnership involves Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi, Te Taiwhenua
o Heretaunga, Te Arawa Lakes Trust and Whakarongorau
Aotearoa // New Zealand Telehealth Services. It was
officially signed at a ceremony at the Waitangi Treaty
Grounds yesterday >
Te Arawa Lakes Trust CEO, Karen Vercoe,
says the partnership is another significant step forward in
achieving better outcomes for whānau.
“This builds
on our initial mahi to deliver healthline services –
including the COVID line – from Rotorua. Our local centre
has created 106 jobs – many for whānau who had lost
employment during New Zealand’s COVID
response.
“Since our Waea Mai call centre went live
in August last year (immediately before the Delta lockdown),
our kaimahi have received and made more than 275,852 calls
with whānau to provide COVID information and vaccination
support.
“Most importantly, our team – alongside
the other iwi involved – have provided a friendly,
familiar and reassuring Māori voice in the COVID response,
a critical component in ensuring a level of comfort for
whānau when they most need it,” says Ms
Vercoe.
“This is a by Māori for Māori initiative,
and it’s proven to be a huge success for everyone
involved, including our local community. The improvement in
the hauora of our kaimahi and the effect it has on whānau
and the wider community cannot be
underestimated.”
Ms Vercoe says Waea Mai offers at
least a living wage and a flexible work environment, which
means kaimahi can plan for the future and fit their mahi
around tamariki, mokopuna and other whānau
commitments.
Whakarongorau Aotearoa // New Zealand
Telehealth Services CEO Andrew Slater says Taki O Autahi is
of fundamental importance to the organisation’s remit e
whakawhiwhi ana ki te katoa I Aoteararoa te huarahi kia ora
to give everyone in Aotearoa the opportunity for
wellness.
“We have been on a journey with Te Hau Ora
O Ngāpuhi, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and
Te Arawa Lakes
Trust to reach some of Aotearoa’s most underserved
communities. I can only describe this work as
transformative.
“It has shown that when our
respective skills and resources are truly, equitably and
fairly shared, the health and wellbeing of individuals and
whole communities benefit.
“To have the trust of
these three iwi and Māori-led organisations is a privilege
and we will continue to strive to earn it,” says Mr
Slater.
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