Road Trip

The South Island Whānau Ora commissioning agency, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu is not sitting in its Christchurch office waiting for action, it’s taking to the highways on a regular basis engaging with people and spreading the word about the innovative nature of Whānau Ora and what is being achieved with public funding.

In August, the entire team of 13, the majority whom are normally based in Christchurch, immersed itself in Murihiku, travelling the highways from Queenstown and Dunedin to Hokonui, Awarua and Waihōpai. For Te Pūtahitanga Chief Executive, Helen Leahy it was an opportunity to build on the staff hīkoi to Te Tau Ihu (Picton, Nelson, Blenheim) early in 2016.

“We are always keen to get out and meet the people. Our travels are an opportunity for us to get to know the contours and the context of the geographic areas we are working in. It’s a chance to meet the people face-to-face, and to see the challenges they face first-hand,” she says.

“It’s also a reminder to us all that Te Waipounamu is a massive land block and we need to be responsive to all areas, not just those where our office is.”

On their latest road trip, the team started in the Whakatipu Basin, planning for the year ahead before moving on to Dunedin where they explored some of the entities and experiences they are supporting.

“This whole project is based on an addressed whānau need. The whānau have discussed the need and desire to have an established maara at their kura and it has been integrated into our strategic plan,” says Helen.

The group met with the Mayor of Dunedin, His Worship Dave Cull to discuss ideas of mutual interest, including how to support rangatahi to thrive and grow past the challenges that can sometimes get in their way.

“We have some exciting rangatahi leadership projects in Ōtepoti, including He Waka Kotuia, engagements between rakatahi, their whānau and elders through wānanga, noho wānanga education sessions, local rūnaka, NCEA workshops, homework centres and community performances.”

On their last day, the team spent an afternoon with Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust in Invercargill, which has a number of exciting projects in various stages of development, including Waiata Wednesday; He Puna Waiora – their low-income GP service; a cooking programme that addresses wellbeing issues; Toitoi – a social enterprise to support whānau through arts and crafts; Tauira Tautoko – student support services at the Southern Institute of Technology; Taitamariki Oranga youth wellbeing; and an endless list of possibilities to support the aspirations of their whakapapa ties to Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka.

“It’s through trips like this that we, as a commissioning agency, can get a much better insight into the people and communities we are working with,” says Helen.

“Being able to catch a glimpse of the lives of our whānau at the southernmost points of the land has been an incredible privilege for us and each new experience has helped us gain a richer understanding of the people and communities whom we invest in.”