Media release: Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Charitable Trust
For immediate release 27 August 2021
The eight Iwi of Te Tauihu (Top of the South) has pulled their resources and whānau networks together to ensure an equitable vaccination rollout for Māori in their region.
The local vaccination campaign has seen a ramp-up in vaccinations since the lockdown. This week 932 Māori were vaccinated with 84% of those being first dose vaccinations.
“We see this increase in uptake as very important and positive because it shows that many whānau are making the decision to protect themselves and their wider hapu and community,” says Dr Lorr Eade, Pouwhakahaere of Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Charitable Trust.
The collaboration involves Māori Hauora providers Te Piki Oranga and Te Hauora o Ngāti Rarua, Omaka, Whakatu and Te Awhina Marae, Nelson Marlborough DHB, PHO’s and Iwi who have come together in an act of kotahitanga (oneness) to drive a successful campaign.
The joined up campaign has leveraged from Karawhiua led by Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry for Māori Development), co-delivered by Te Hiringa Hauora (Health Promotion Agency), and supported by the Ministry of Health New Zealand and the Unite against COVID-19 teams. Karawhiua means Give it heaps! Go for it!”
Iwi have tailored the campaign with local messaging and the recruitment of whānau champions to reflect their communities in an authentic way through LIVE panel discussions, video, photos on billboards and banners to running education workshops across the region.
“The way in which we are working together reflects treaty-based principles of engagement from conception, development to delivery and brings to the surface how our incredible Māori health workforce, addresses inequity,” says Dr Eade.
“Working collaboratively, we are able to collectively target resources with appropriate solutions. As an example, if we need to take the vaccinations to whānau in certain communities to address barriers to the vaccine we can pull our resources to ensure that happens”.
“We encourage whānau to book in for their vaccinations if they haven’t already (bookmyvaccine.covid19.health.nz). They can check out our Facebook pages for updates on the various ways they can get vaccinated and seek support through the lockdown in Te Tauihu. Go to @TeKotahioTeTauihu”.
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About Te Kotahi Te Tauihu Charitable Trust
Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Trust was set up by the eight iwi of Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui (the top of the South Island) to realise our shared aspirations for the Māori communities of Te Tauihu. Working together ensures we have roadmap for the future across our shared aspirations of Whāngai, Feeding our people; Tāwharautia, Shelter & Support; Whiwhi Mahi, Work & Training; and Whai Oranga, Holistic Wellness.
Ngā iwi o Te Tauihu of Te Waka-a-Māui (The eight iwi) are: Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Rangitāne o Wairau and Te Ātiawa o te Waka-a-Māui.
