our news

19/3/2024

Master's Graduate, Tibble Pou, on sharing her methodology with the iwi

Ko Hikurangi te maunga

Ko Waiapu te awa

Ko Hiruharama, Taharora, Karuwai me Te-Poho-o-Rawiri ngā marae

Ko Te Aitanga-ā-Mate, Te Whānau-ā-Rakairoa, Te Whānau-ā-Karuwai me Ngāti Oneone ngā hapū

Ko Nukutaimemeha te waka

Ko Porourangi te tangata, Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi

Ko Karaitiana Te Amotawa Tibble-Pou ahau

Ko Morgan Kaiaio Te Ehutu Tibble-Pou taku mātāmua kaingākau

Ko Arni Tuketenui Tibble-Pou taku pōtiki rakaraka

 

Congratulations on your recent tohu, Karaitiana! Can you please tell us what you have achieved and what that consisted of?

Te Hono ki Toi (Poutiriao) | Master of Professional Creative Practice. ‘Rukuhia Tō Ora’ was the name of my project which means dive into your own wellbeing. The famous waiata oriori, Kia Tapu Hoki Koe, composed by the ancestress, Hinekitawhiti, informed and inspired me to showcase an installation of tipuna photographs with her silhouette paintings and holographic kapa performance work – collectively termed by the artist as, oriori tā-waiwaiā.

 

How was your journey towards your Master’s degree?

We had Gabrielle and we had COVID, so I’ve only just graduated from EIT Tairāwhiti Toihoukura this year. My tutor is in Hawkes Bay where the campus was flooded out during the cyclone, so graduation kept being pushed out. The effects here and the effects over there kept pushing it back. I was in my last year of my Master’s when I started [with Te Hiringa Matua] which worked out well.

 

Does your studies have any relevance to your day to day mahi?

This job was made for me. It kind of freaked me out how in line my methodology is with my mahi. I want to collect data to be able to use and push my methodology further. Oriori tā-waiwaiā helps me to process māmā [and actually pāpā as well] to help them express their deep and repressed emotions. It’s all about emotions, because a lot of the oranga in our whānau is based off when traumatic events happen, and then they let it sit there, and it never comes out or they don’t have the words to express what’s really sitting there so my methodology helps them bring it out without words. I call it Rongoā Māori because it’s Māori, and it’s my Rongoā.

 

What does your day to day mahi look like? Do you apply your methodology with clients and how receptive are they to it?

With the arts – we do a lot. How I run my sessions is that we sit and we kōrero. Nine times out of ten, I can feel that our whānau are feeling somewhat heavy, so I allow them to be a part of the process. A lot of people freak because they say they aren’t artists, but it’s not about the end result, it’s about the process. It’s how you manage yourself throughout the process. So I get them to jump on a canvas, and say “I’d like to express yourself based on the kōrero you just gave, with colour. So whatever colour resonates with whatever emotion for you, use it.” It’s about talking from the wairua and expressing yourself through colour because we are very good at controlling things, so I don’t like to let them draw an actual figure. A lot of people go inward, in to their mind and think “this is ugly” but it’s not about that, it’s about how you navigate yourself throughout the process. For example, I have a whānau that could only draw one line at a time. It took them ages to do one colour, one line, at a time. I said to them “I wonder what would happen if you grabbed another colour and went straight through it with a line in a different colour” which caused so much anxiety for them. What I learnt from this was that this person was quite OCD. I left the suggestion with them and walked away. After giving them some space, I returned to the canvas full of squiggles and they were just having the time of their lives. What it allows is for whānau to break out of the constraints of ‘everything has to be perfect’ or a certain way, and allowing your wairua to show you what’s happening at it’s purest form. Giving yourself permission to be okay with how everything falls, and allowing yourself to be your authentic self. Whānau can be scared at the start if they’ve never done anything with paint before, but eventually they get in to it. I think they like it because a lot of the time, whānau don’t have the words to share what they’re feeling, but you don’t have to tell me, I can read it from your painting just based on the colours you chose. I break it down to 7 sessions, where the first 3 are intimate so you can get an understanding of the process, and the last 4 sessions are open to more māmā. By then, they also understand that they’re learning how to process their art. ‘What do you feel when you used that colour, what do you resonate this colour with?’ Some even paint their feelings around their addictions and there’s so much joy there. It’s about allowing that mamae to come out so you’re not sitting in it. They can bring their whānau along as well. It is a māmā, pēpi methodology that I base my mahi off, but since writing it, I’ve learnt that it’s not just for māmā but also pāpā, whānau, etc. The point of it is to try find ways to heal your trauma without sex, drugs, and alcohol. Finding better ways to heal and look after yourself for your babies.

I’ve only been using oriori tā-waiwaiā here [at Te Hiringa Matua]. I’ve tried to use oriori to accompany [my mahi] but I’ve realised a lot of our whānau can’t go back past their grandparents. With oriori, you’re trying to liken your child to an ancestor, a chiefly ancestor. But a lot of our whānau struggle to go back. This was something that came up during my methodology. In some sessions, whānau and I have adapted after the realisation that whānau can’t go back to their illustrious ancestors. We go back to the grandparents they can name, so we can still go through the process and work around what they do know. A lot of it is disconnection.

I also do mirimiri and healing which I combine with the arts. It’s also mirimiri with korero, so I take my skills to the table. I’ve never had any training in that form, but I know what to say. I’ve had some characters come see me for mirimiri and their bodies tell me a lot about them without them having to say it. I’ve learnt to ask open ended questions to allow more korero to flow. For me, it’s all about mental clarity. To remove themselves from their turmoil, to stand back, and look from a different point of view. Some people can sit in their hara until they die, but we don’t need to. You just need to hongi your shadows. Stop, acknowledge your shadows, it brings you power to really see who you are – the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you can’t look at those parts of you, how are you supposed to find any oranga.

It also takes time. It takes building trust. If you don’t have trust, there’s no way of pulling down those barriers with whānau. Once they’ve got a gage of me through the first 3 sessions, they’re covered by light. Even if you come in here fuelled with darkness, they feel the light from me and I try to be that for them, and create a comfortable space. A lot of those barriers get broken down straight off the bat when you introduce yourself, it’s the whanaungatanga.

I’ve taken my art practice to Huarahi Pae. When you have an understanding on colour and how it transforms into emotion, I can read depths about what people have gone through, acknowledge them, allow them the space to actually talk about their shadows, the things that have hurt them, and apologising to them too. I’m not the person they want to hear it from, but at least someone has said it. Sometimes when I’ve said it, they’ve just broken down.

 

What inspired your methodology?

Before my studies, I already knew I loved art but I was disconnected, living in Australia. I decided to come home, had my oldest son, and was able to cross credit into the second year of Toihoukura because of my past studies at South Seas Film School. In my third year, it was COVID lockdown and I was pregnant. I finished off my Bachelor’s degree but it was hectic - I gave birth without my whānau because of the COVID lockdown. They had to see baby through a window for 7 weeks, and my big son was away from his brother and I. Afterwards, I went straight back into my studies and painting with baby in the front pack. That’s when I came up with the methodology.

If I can make it through some hellish times, how can I give that support I needed to our whānau. A lot of it is lived experiences. Healing and understanding the experiences that I went through, so I can use it to help whānau. I want whānau to see that if you put the effort and work in to who you are, and your oranga, you can be like me. I started my Bachelor’s in 2019, it’s now 2024, so if you think of it as ‘in 5 years you could be here.’ You could be living in hell right now, but it’s about having someone to help you through these spaces. I made this decision 5 years ago, and I’m finally standing on the other side thinking ‘who would have thought?’ It tells me I can make a goal in 5 years and I can attain it.

It’s a Master of Arts but I also feel it moves into wellbeing, and it’s all around Ngāti Porou knowledge. It’s all for our people. One of many tools for our whānau to use on their hauora journey. I went on this journey to become a better mum, a more present mum, a more healed mum, a more interactive mum, a more loving mum for my kids. Being there isn’t enough, it’s about being able to mirimiri our kids towards their full potential or to fufill what they’re in this lifetime to achieve. A lot of our kids are just existing, and we need to be more intentional.

 

How do you unwind from such big mahi?

I have my own process of how I cleanse myself, but in saying that, our whare can be heavy at times. Because I do what I do, I’ve practiced over the years ways of keeping myself clean and clear of the hara. People do think that because I’m so light, that I can’t handle the dark, but little do you know. I’ve done the work to allow my wairua to be light.

 

Do many of the whānau you work with uncover hara that they weren’t aware they even had?

Yes - so many light bulb moments, and they’re my favourite things to watch. When we’re doing these sessions, we allow space and time for people. If you’re feeling triggered, there’s always someone to speak to. One of our clients was getting mad because we had them painting rocks, and he just did not see the point. He got up, walked out, went for a smoke, then came back. We explained that it’s not about the end result of the painted rock, but the process and the way you control that situation. By walking away and taking the time to calm down instead of flipping the table -that’s something you can apply in your everyday life. Take a moment and walk away. How you deal with things in this activity, is how you would deal with it in real life. It’s confronting. Allowing them to feel it all. Confronting yourself and allowing yourself to go there. It’s only one tool in the grand scheme of things, but it’s another tool of healing. Giving them the tools to navigate hara. It’s your wairua telling you what you’re sitting with, now let it go.

 

Where do you see yourself going forward?

I want to do my PHD. I want to further my understanding of my methodology. I want to use it as it’s specific to Ngāti Porou, because of the referencing that I’ve used in my exegesis. I want to further it into the world, and have indigenous cultures use this methodology based on their art practices. I don’t just see it staying in Ngāti Porou or New Zealand. I’m excited that it was born in this space when I was working for my iwi. We’re a breakthrough space, leading a lot [in the health sector]. That’s what I like about finishing my Master's and already working for Ngāti Porou Oranga. That it’s somewhat been born at home. Within our services, within our iwi, used with our iwi first and then hopefully can be used as an example for other iwi and ethnicities.

I also want to get my tickets for mirimiri this year. I don’t have any but for me it’s Taonga Tuku Iho.

 

Any acknowledgements you’d like to make?

My tutor, Chris Bryant-Toi. I can’t thank him enough. I’m proud to have had him as my tutor - he climbed mountains to get us over the line.

To the whānau at Te Hiringa Matua - thank you for supporting me in the last few weeks of finishing my Master's.

To my good friend Leilani, to my friend Maiangi, to my cousin Crystal, to my cousins Bubba, Hekia, Renee and Tarsh, to my Nan Heni Karaitiana, to Aunty Ange, to Uncle Mark, to my sister Piata, and to my mum Rhonda Tibble*

 

*extracted from Tibble-Pou’s exergesis

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19/3/2024

Puhi Kai Iti Nurses celebrated in latest EIT graduation

Ngāti Porou Oranga and Puhi Kai Iti Community Health Centre are proud to celebrate Nurses, Courtney Kururangi and Te Ara Priest, who graduated from EIT | Te Pūkenga Tairāwhiti on Friday 8 March 2024, at the War Memorial Theatre in Gisborne

We briefly caught up with the two in between patients, listening to their stories and journey towards grad!

Courtney Kururangi

Where did your nursing journey begin?

In 2020, I did the Foundation (Study and Career Prep) Course. It helps prepare you for school again, e.g. how to write an essay or reference. It was a good starting point. 2021, I began the Bachelor of Nursing degree at EIT Tairāwhiti.

Tell us more about your recent tohu, and your experiences leading up towards graduation?

I've just completed the Bachelor of Nursing degree, so I'm a new grad fresh out of school. 3 years of full time study with 2 kids and trying to get work - it was good, hard, but worth it. I worked at Te Wiremu Rest Home in my last couple years [of study], and you've just got to find a good balance.

Any acknowledgements you'd like to make?

My family - they've seen the good, the bad, and everything else. My partner, my two boys, my parents. I made some good friends too while studying, and have a couple of really good friends who were able to support. And even here [Puhi Kai Iti Community Health Centre], for employing me. This is my first job as a nurse, so I’m grateful that this [Puhi Kai Iti] is such a supportive environment. I've been very lucky.

Te Ara Priest

Where did your nursing journey begin?

EIT Tairāwhiti - I've been here [with Ngāti Porou Oranga] for about 7 years now. So 13 years ago is where my journey at EIT started. As soon as I graduated, I had 3 months of chilling, then brought my CV in [Puhi Kai Iti Community Health Centre], and they started me. I came on as casual at first, which was fine because I had 2 babies during my studies, so I grew with them.

Tell us more about your recent tohu, and your experiences leading up towards graduation?

I've just done the Post Grad Cert, and am on my third paper. If I do one more paper, I'll have the diploma, which is why I didn't really take notice of the certificate. I decided I wanted to do more for our people, and as Primary Healthcare Nurses, we have that ability.

Any acknowledgements you'd like to make?

My peers because they might not even know it but during my studies, I'd be bouncing things off them and getting ideas from them. The doctors - Dr Kiri Bird and Dr Ken McFarlane, they were my mentors. And my family.

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14/3/2024

Te Whānau a Te Aopare invited to discuss health concerns and aspirations of hapū

Te Waha o Rūaumoko - Centre of Excellence invite whānau to come discuss the health concerns and aspirations of Te Whānau a Te Aopare hapū

The Centre of Excellence is developing its ability to support hapū led approaches to health improvement, so that health care services will no longer be seen as the sole owners of health and health service solutions, but rather, an important partner within the wellness framework. Hapū Development in health is a ground up approach to working with hapū to develop community led action in addressing wellness. It does not presume that the hapū is not already doing so, but seeks to support further action as the hapū sees fit. The purpose of this project is to work more closely with hapū to address hapū identified issues that relate to your own unique social, cultural, spiritual, environmental and health needs

📅 Saturday 16 March 2024

📍 Te Paerauta (Tutua) Marae, Te Araroa

⏰ 10am

Nau mai, haere mai!

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12/3/2024

Nāti Pēpi Hapūtanga & Wahakura Wānanga

Register now for Nāti Pēpi Hapūtanga & Wahakura Wānanga!

March 12, 13, 14 2024

Hiruharama Marae, RUATOREA

Day 1

9am- 2.30pm

Hapūtanga Wānanga

Rongoā Making

Muka Tie

Day 2

9am-2.30pm

Wahakura Day 1

Harvesting and Preparing Harakeke

Begin Wahakura

Day 3

9am-2.30pm

Wahakura Completion

Prizegiving

 

Delicious kai, mirimiri, beautiful prizes, and accommodation at Mangahanea Marae are available for māmā who attend

 

Please contact our Nāti Pēpi team in Ruatorea if you wish to attend wānanga with us

0800 563 566

natipepi@npo.org.nz

Ngā mihi e te whānau...

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11/3/2024

Mīharo Henri Banks

Ko Hikurangi te maunga

Ko Waiapu te awa

Ko Ngāti Porou te iwi

Nō Te Whānau a Rākairoa, Te Awemapara, me Te Riu o Waiapu ahau

Ko Tāwhai Banks taku hoa rangatira

Tokorima a māua tamariki

Ko Henri Banks ahau

I was born and bred around the Tairāwhiti. I went to Te Waiū and Waikirikiri School growing up. From a full time mum and crossfit coach, I am now a Mataora at Te Hiringa Matua and have been here 1.5 years working with the Nga Pae Matarau Team

What is your role like?

Challenging. Because whānau can be so stuck. Identifying the underlying blocks and supporting them with therapy through maramataka and hauora is key. Some people have been through traumatic events and don’t even know they have. So navigating this with them to figure out what that could be and how it is affecting them is a big part of my role

A lot of whānau are living in distress, due to AOD and poverty. I was one of these people once and I feel like my lived experience helps me in my approach allowing me to empathise and support whānau better

What do you enjoy about the role?

The thing I enjoy most about the role is working with whānau, watching and helping them make a shift. It is amazing. I also love working in a Te Ao Māori Space. It has helped me to reconnect too. Learning how our tīpuna did things and managed different situations is really interesting

Do you like your job?

Yes, I love my job! I am passionate about breaking cycles

However, after working and wānanga with whānau, I realised I was intrigued by the underlying issues more so than the social work side of things. I felt like I wanted to get deeper and know more. I wanted to know why whānau were turning to addictions and what was it in their lives that made them do it

What would you say to anyone interested in pursuing a career as a Mataora?

You definitely have to be passionate! But it is never too late and life experience is good

How do you look after yourself in your mahi?

Some ways we look after ourselves are Pure/Tuku Wānanga at the beach in the waitai, where we can unload in a safe space. Knowing your crew is receiving feedback too, makes it super safe

What do you get up to when you’re not at work?

Chilling with my whānau and Crossfit!

Do you have an inspiring whakataukī or whakatauakī that inspire you?

Nā to rourou, nā toku rourou ka ora ai te iwi

If everyone gives something and helps each other then we will all survive

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7/3/2024

A New Doctor for Ngāti Porou Oranga

We got to catch up with our new young Doctor Jake after a couple months on the scene at Ngati Porou Oranga to see how he's settling in at Ngāti Porou Oranga.

So Jake tell us where are you from?

Well I was born in Seoul - the capital of South Korea. My parents moved us (my brother and I) to New Zealand when I was 10 years old. They felt the education system in Korea was too competitive and didn’t want that for us. So they made the big decision to move us all to New Zealand. They stayed until both my brother and I got our medical degrees and then they moved back to Korea. My brother also lives in Gisborne. He is a dentist.

We settled in Hastings and I attended Frimley Primary school and then we ended up moving to Napier where I attended Taradale High School. Then on  to Dunedin and I went to Otago University to do Medicine. I've been a Doctor at 3 Rivers Medical and also in Wairoa too. Altogether I have been living here for about 20 years.

Why medicine? What made you want to be a Doctor?

Well one night I was reading in my room and my dad knocked on the door and said “Jake are you a doctor yet?” Just jokes - but on a serious note my parents definitely had a hand in it. They wanted us to be medical professionals.

How are you finding the job so far at Ngāti Porou Oranga?

Great! I really like the way we get sufficient time with our patients. The extra time allows us to get into more holistic care and into the background to see what’s going on in their lives and not just why they’ve come into the clinic. It lets extra pressure off a GP and allows us to bond with patients.

I also like the culture here with the staff and patients. When you help someone or do extra work people genuinely appreciate it and dont take it for granted. I feel like the patients are really kind too.

Do you think you will be here long?

Yeah! Well I have family here with my brother and sister in law and also friends here too.

Why do you like being a GP?

I get to meet new people everyday (I meet like 20 new people a day!)

And I like doing my best to solve the problems the patients come in with. I also really enjoy the staff here from the nurses to the mataora everybody is interesting and our collegial relationship is great. Hopefully we get a few more doctors in the near future too.

Do you have any advice you would like to share with anyone interested in pursuing a career in medicine?

When I was at the hospital I couldn't find a specialty I was interested in. Most people becoming Dr’s already kind of know that they want to be like a brain surgeon or other. At one point I considered moving away from medicine and finding a new job. Then I tried being a GP as a last resort and I loved it. So now here I am. The thing I enjoy the most is being out in the community. So for anyone wanting to be a doctor I think it’s important to not give up and keep trying to find where you belong! I can't even imagine what I’d be doing if I wasn't a GP.. maybe a plumbing or maybe I’d be an electrician.

Do you go back to Korea often?

Yeah I enjoy going back there. Catching up with my cousins and relatives. I like the food over there. You can't get some types of Korean food here in NZ so I really make the most of it. Last time I was there last year I went for a month and I put on 10kgs!

So when you’re not in the clinic, what do you do for fun?

I like going to different restaurants and trying food and cocktails! (laughs). I went to the new Tahu restaurant last night with my friend and we enjoyed lots of good food and cocktails. I like to take pictures of my food *shows pictures. I think you can tell I’m a foodie!

I also like playing table tennis but I haven’t played in ages! I was the King of table tennis at Wairoa Hospital Accomodation! So I’d like to play again soon some time.

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7/3/2024

Koia kei a koe Jessy Lerm!

Ko Pukehapopo te maunga

Ko Waiomoko te awa

Ko Ngāti Konohi te iwi

Ko Reuben Coffey taku hoa rangatira

Ko Terai mā te ata, Āwhina, Te Pou o te Awa, me Iranui a māua tamariki

Ko Jessy Lerm ahau

What is your role?

I am a Mataora in the Ngā Pae Matarau (FASD) Space. I have been at Te Hiringa Matua for just over 2 years

What do you enjoy about the role?

I enjoy working in an Ao Māori setting. It’s wānanga based, constantly learning, constantly being uncomfortable and adapting to spaces. The thing I like most is being able to see the transitions whānau make as wē walk alongside them in their journey with us

Tell us about Hiringa Matua?

Te Hiringa Matua is a parenting, pregnancy service working with some of our most resilient whānau. I am a Mataora. It is my role to be a “change agent” to help inspire change in a person or whānau. Trying tō help positive change in whānau is a significant part of the kaupapa

How is the work load?

The mahi is hard but definitely rewarding, especially watching the transition take place within each whānau. Some whānau you've been working with over a long period of time and just to see the shift and to watch them now thriving. Very rewarding mahi. The thing I love is that there is no specific way to mahi. We are free to implement our pūkenga with whānau. Although my tohu is in AOD Counselling, I am able to incorporate other practices including rongoā rākau

Yes, tell us about your tohu/most recent achievement?

It was a level 7 Post Grad Diploma in Alcohol and other Drugs Counselling. I am now a registered clinician for the Drug and Alcohol Practitioners Association Aoteroa New Zealand. (DAPAANZ). We can now offer AoD counselling to whānau at Te Hiringa Matua

Do you have any advice for up and coming Mataora?

If you are thinking about being a Mataora or doing this kind of mahi - come. We definitely need it. It's not about us, it's about the next generation and how we can work to make this a better place for tamariki - not just ours but all tamariki and mokopuna

What are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about indigensing your space and speaking up for institutional racism. I am passionate about my tamariki being strong in who they are and where they come from

How do you unwind from such big mahi?

Lying down and closing off my mind. Being with my tamariki as much as they do my head in (laughs). Bring back simple things. Because our mahi can be so heavy and pōuri, it’s fun to just be with my babies, muck around, and be a whānau. I also paint on denim jackets as a hobby!

Do you have any inspiring whakataukī that you would like to share?

“If you are a tree, we are a small axe sharp and ready” Bob Marley

I think it means that though things might seem big in life wē can always get through them and conquer anything!

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22/6/2023

Matakaoa on the Move

A new pilates class has started in Te Araroa run by Ngāti Porou Hauora Physiotherapist Anne Hewetson. The weekly class is held at Hinerupe (the local marae) and has a growing mix of local people attending regularly, especially kaumātua (elders). The initiative has been started as a proactive way to keep people strong, mobile and to prevent falls, as well to boost recovery for those who have had injuries or operations. The exercises focus on increasing levels of strength, balance, flexibility, muscle tone, stamina, and well-being. The ability to modify exercises to meet differing needs makes it a great community activity. “People are commenting about how good it makes them feel.

There has been increased mobility in some members and it has given people a greater understanding of what their bodies are capable of and what it feels like to have a good stretch.” - Tracey Morris, Rural Health Nurse Because the Physiotherapist is only in the area once a week, the goal is to train a local person to take over the classes going forward. This will give people greater access to recovery and rehabilitation sessions. The team at Matakaoa Clinic are also wanting to start a regular walking group. The staff walk most mornings already but are keen to get more locals involved. The Huringa Pai movement in Gisborne has certainly helped inspire the idea.

These activities all fit in with Ngāti Porou Hauora’s bigger vision to transform the East Coast into one of the world’s Blue Zones. Blue Zones are a handful of small areas in the world where people live longer and live 'happier' than anywhere else on the planet. Two of the core ingredients that have been identified in the recipe for a Blue Zone are regular physical activity and coming together as a community.

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22/6/2023

Waiata

A waiata (song) has recently been gifted to the mental health team at Ngāti Porou Hauora. Presented by John Coleman of Tokomaru Bay, this waiata is a special tribute to a woman and past consumer of the mental health service, who has since passed away. Waiata have long been an effective method for maintaining well-being for Māori. It is an expression of emotion and a traditional form of healing. Over the past few decades, Ngāti Porou Hauora have been privileged to have had support from John and over this time he has written the organisation hundreds of songs. John comes from a line of gifted Ngāti Porou composers including Tuini Ngawai and Ngoi Pewhairangi.

Through waiata John has recorded the history of hauora on the Coast. Whenever there has been a hui or significant moment, there has also been a waiata that helps us remember who was there and what the kaupapa (topic of discussion) was. Often visitors have been able to take away the gift of a song as a special reminder of their visit. This waiata, however, is slightly different. In his younger days, John worked in the NPH mental health service, and it was here that he came across this particular song. A woman who was battling mental illness at the time brought in the English version of the song and explained that when she heard it, she felt like it was singing about her. The lyrics resonated deeply. However, she asked that John translate it to Māori as she believed this would be more beautiful and useful to her in her healing journey. Years later, John was reminded of the song. With the Ngāti Porou Hauora team recently visiting and consulting with the community around our model of care, and the nationwide Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction he decided it would be a useful tool to help people to understand the perspective of those suffering from mental health issues and addiction. Here is the song: Lace covered window

Original by New Faces / Nga kupu by J.T. Coleman I te reo

Māori

Tuatahi: Ka hikoi I tea o, anake,
O pumau, ka huri, muri new e.
Ka tangi roimata, maumahara,
Nga whakaaturanga matapihi. 

Tuarua: Te marama e kore I kitea,
Na konei, ko te whiu, I tea o nei,
E pumau kia kume te aria e,
Tirohia te aria matapihi. 

Chorus: Ka rapa noa nga mahara kei whea ra.
Ko wai e tau nei I a koe.
Me kume te aria kia mohio ano
Te aroha kei reira mo koe ra. 

Tuatoru: Ka hikoi korua mo ake
Waihotia na pouri, mamaetanga,
Ka nga ra whiti-mai apopo,
Tu where te aria matapihi,
Whiti ra te aria matapihi. 

English

Verse 1: When you walk through the world all alone,
And your dreams turn to ashes behind you,
Then the tears in your eyes will remind you,
Of a vein through a lace covered window. 

Verse 2: Doesn’t seem very clear anymore,
In your world everything is uncertain,
How you wish you could pull back the curtain,
Just to see through that lace covered window.

Chorus: But you’ll never know what life has in store,
What’s waiting there to greet you.
So pull back the curtains and maybe once more,
True love is there to meet you. 

Verse 3: So you walk side by side through the world,
No more times full of darkness & sorrow,
Every day is a bright new tomorrow,
When you open that lace covered window,
Let the sun through that lace covered window.

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22/6/2023

Pēpi Ora

In partnership Vodafone New Zealand Foundation and Todd Foundation, we are excited to be developing innovative technology which will support parents on the Coast. This project is the first of its kind and has the potential to revolutionise parent’s engagement with children’s health development. The name Pēpi Ora came from a group of young whānau in Ngāti Porou. Pēpi means a baby in infancy and Ora is a state of wellbeing, to be healthy, fit and alive. The app will be an incentive-based programme for young families that takes the ‘Gold Card’ idea, but instead rewards parents for the important contribution they make to NZ society, and improves it by including a points collection and rewards program.

Young parents join our programme at their first antenatal appointment and once fully developed, will be able to collect points through activities such as attending health appointments, completing immunisations and developing and implementing a whānau ora plan. The potential to increase young parent’s active engagement in the health, development and education of their child is currently untapped in New Zealand. The physical Well Child/Tamariki Ora booklet is often forgotten by parents attending appointments, and very seldom looked at between appointments. Pēpi Ora will revolutionise these old systems by offering something that is engaging and culturally-sensitive. The interaction whanau will have with technology through the app, we believe will support actively engaged young parents and as a result, improve future outcomes for our next generation.

In October 2017 Ngāti Porou Hauora’s Frances King and Laine Tangaire a rangatahi (youth) from Rangitukia spent six weeks at the Vodafone NZ Foundation’s Change Accelerator Program surrounded by a team of tech experts from Dev Academy and Vodafone. This unique opportunity saw the concept of Pēpi Ora come to life through a prototype which we have now taken back to the Coast for development. This year we are undertaking a formal trial of the program with whānau on the coast and local businesses. Evaluation from this will inform the development of the next phase: a ‘native app’ that we can roll out across the whole community. This project is the first of its kind and has the potential to be scaled locally, nationally and internationally. Scaling the program will be dependent on the success of this pilot and the level of interest from key stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, NGOs such as Plunket, Māori health service providers and local businesses contributing to the rewards programme. Once trialed and refined into an attractive, functional app; this program has great potential.

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22/6/2023

Research Centre

This year Ngāti Porou Hauora opens the doors of the Te Rangawairua o Paratene Ngata Research Centre, based at Te Puia Springs Hospital. The name honours the vision of the late Dr Paratene Ngata: for Ngāti Porou Hauora to lead our own research developments, becoming “a tikanga and research based centre of excellence for Hauora Māori”. The name has been gifted to us by Dr Paratene’s whanau and in English translates to ‘The Inspiration of Paratene Ngata’. The centre will provide a basis for building on the research initiatives and relationships which Dr Paratene inspired Ngāti Porou Hauora, our communities and university researchers to build over the last 15 years+.

It is our intention that the centre will be a catalyst for growing sustainable research partnerships that enhance our work with local communities and scientists from a range of disciplines to generate new knowledge and better health outcomes that empower our people to live well and live longer. Initially, the centre will enhance research that has been focusing on increasing knowledge about factors, including genetics and nutrition, which contribute to the prevalence of the debilitating metabolic conditions which compromise many people’s lives: type-2 diabetes, gout, obesity, heart & kidney disease, and the impact of sugar. Through NPH’s newest research partnership, with the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Bio-discovery, an expanded collaborative network of scientists, health researchers and providers will work with us to further advance understandings about metabolic conditions - with the aim of informing significant improvements in treatment and prevention.

Teepa Wawatai, chairman of Ngāti Porou Hauora Charitable Trust Board, said diabetes, gout, heart and kidney disease were four important health issues affecting Ngāti Porou, and these will be a focus for initial research. “We are excited about the new Research Centre and believe the work that happens there result in better ways to prevent and treat these conditions while also delivering jobs and educational outcomes. This mechanism allow us to deliver these outcomes in a way that does not divert resources from our critical frontline healthcare roles.” Importantly, integral to all activities of the research centre will be regular opportunities for our communities (including schools), health professionals and scientists to meet with each other to share knowledge and co-define priorities, and for Ngāti Porou and other māori students, practitioners and researchers to develop skills in research of relevance to māori and rural health.

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22/6/2023

Veterans Clinic

Veteran from all over the coast gathered together at Te Puia Hospital for a check up and a chat at the first Veterans Clinic. The initiative is a collaboration between Ngāti Porou Hauora, Veterans Affairs and Royal New Zealand Returned Services' Association to improve access to services for veterans living on the coast. A round-robin of services was set up so that each person who attended was able to have time with everyone, including a podiatrist, geriatrician, hearing specialist, rehabilitation specialist and a veterans affairs case manager. 13 veterans living on the Coast came on the day, some with whānau.

Janet Castell RSA District Support Advisor for the Wairarapa, East Coast, Hawkes bay District was part of the team running the Clinic on the day. She noted that “Getting all the health stuff sorted was great, but the nicest part was that it got a lot of chaps together and to just have a yarn. You could see how much they all enjoyed it. One of them commented that it was nice to be together for something other than a funeral.” The whole day was really successful and we had more numbers than expected. There are plans to try and run more clinics like this in the future and to expand the target group to reach more people. Janet is also in the process of setting up a network of regular information sessions for Veterans through the clinics.

Starting with Matakoa she plans to visit every second month to share information on what supports are available and help to link people up to the benefits they are eligible for. Recent changes in legislation mean that there are now more supports available, so we want to make sure whānau on the Coast have access to this.

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22/6/2023

Feasibility Study

For centuries Te Puia Springs has been a sanctuary of cultural significance and healing for Māori. The site is particularly significant for Ngāti Porou, but was also known as a place of peace, where Māori from other tribes and people in conflict, could come to heal in safety. This historical context sits firmly beneath the recognition that redeveloping the hospital facilities at Te Puia is a key step to improving the health of our people within one generation.

This year, with support from New Zealand Lottery we have been able to have completed an independent Feasibility Study on the redevelopment of the facilities in Te Puia. The study has been carried out by Impact Consulting and looks at the potential not for a ‘bigger hospital’, but rather to redesign the existing infrastructure and unlock the potential for a more holistic facility which will better serve our community. The project is an invitation which seeks to draw other significant community stakeholders together in Te Puia to collaboratively improve health, social and economic outcomes for our region.

When we think of “health”, most people instantly think of preventing or curing physical sickness ie. a hospital. However, from a Māori perspective health is more about wellbeing. It encompasses much more than our bodies and is intrinsically linked to all we do, including our social interactions with others. It is fantastic to have a document which really unpacks the details of what this could look like and what is needed to bring it to reality. We believe this Feasibility Study will be a powerful tool in helping us move forward with this important project.

Download Document

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22/6/2023

Gout and Related Conditions in Tairawhiti: Genes & Kai

Introduction Gout is a severely debilitating inherited disease affecting 10-15% of Māori and Pacific men and 6% of European men. It is caused by too much urate in the blood. As urate builds up in the blood it forms crystals in the joints, which cause an immune reaction leading to inflammation (red, hot joints) and severe pain. Conditions related to gout include diabetes and kidney and heart disease. People with gout often develop two or more of these conditions. International updates A United States company (ArdeaBiosciences) has developed a new drug for gout, called Lesinurad. It works by increasing the amount of uric acid excreted in the mimi. This is different to allopurinol that works by slowing the production of uric acid in the blood. We hope that Lesinurad will be available in New Zealand in a few years. National updates Variations have been found in genes which produce proteins that control the amount of uric acid leaving the body via the mimi, and these variations are more common in Māori. This provides scientific-evidence for using alternative drugs that work in the kidneys to help remove this excess uric acid. These drugs (such as probenecid and benzbromarone) are used with people for whom allopurinol does not work well. Lesinurad (mentioned above) could also be a good option in the future. We know that some kai can trigger gout in some people who already have uric acid crystals. 

To find out the role of some foods and drinks in urate levels we used United States data to calculate the role of diet compared to genes. Genes are overwhelmingly dominant in determining uric acid levels. With diet having such a small role this points to the importance of using allopurinol to lower uric acid levels to get rid of the gout. Local update, previous findings ABCG2. The biggest highlight was that the ABCG2 gene plays a strong role in gout by triggering the gout attack. This gene is interesting because its function is changed by a chemical called circumin that is found in the spice turmeric. We are now working with University of Auckland scientists to test if an existing drug can work on ABCG2 to stop gout, we have just got NZ Health Research Council funding for this work. We have found other genetic variants in this gene that are specific to Māori, but these variants are very rare. ABCC4. We have also found a version of another gene (‘ABCC4’) that is involved in making the urate high by getting rid of less uric acid in the mimi. This version is found in Māori and Pacific people, but not in Pākehā. It is part of the explanation as to why uric acid is naturally higher in Māori and Pacific men. LRP2 (megalin). This gene plays a role in gout in Tairāwhiti, and in other Māori and Pacific Island people in Aotearoa NZ. What is very interesting about LRP2 is that its genetic function is over-ridden by alcohol drinking. There is one variation of the gene that decreases the chances of gout by about a quarter. 

This version is present in 1 in 8 of Māori in Tairāwhiti. When a person with this version drinks any alcohol their chance of gout is about 4.5 times higher than someone with this version who does not drink. We do not know what the megalin gene does in the body, but it may be involved in getting rid of uric acid in the mimi. Tomatoes. We found that tomatoes play a role in triggering gout in some people. This confirms what people with gout in Tairāwhiti have been telling us. How tomatoes do this is not yet known, but probably tomatoes trigger gout in some people when their uric acid level is already high and the crystals are there. There is no need to avoid tomatoes if they don’t cause your gout. The best way to stop gout is getting the uric acid low with the drug allopurinol. Sugary drinks. We found that people with gout were drinking less sugary drinks, meaning that the message about people with gout not drinking sugary drinks works in Tairāwhiti. Interestingly there were also less gout attacks. And we found that people with gout who do drink sugary drinks have higher uric acid. Local update, new findings CREBRF. The recent exciting finding is the CREBRF gene. A specific change in this gene, found only in people of Māori and Pacific ancestry, causes weight to increase. But, at the same time, it protects from diabetes. This tells us that some causes of obesity and diabetes are different in Māori than other populations. 

We think that increased muscle mass in Māori combined with good fat is behind this apparent paradox. With the Maurice Wilkins Centre (a national research centre based in Auckland) we are proposing more local research to understand this. (If you are wondering, this CREBRF gene may also control urate levels. We will explore this.) Mitochondria. The other finding we have relates to the energy powerhouses in your body, the mitochondria. There are dozens of these in your body and they convert the energy from your kai (e.g. glucose and fats) to the energy that your body actually uses (‘ATP’). We have found that part of the cause of gout is when the mitochondria get stressed – this helps trigger off the gout attack. We do not yet know exactly how the mitochondria get stressed. We also hope to explore this in the next phases of the study. What does this mean for improving health care? What does mean for improving how we prevent and manage both the gout, and the other related conditions? We are now considering how whānau and doctors & nurses can use this precise information - about the ways genes work with your kai, and with the drugs used to treat gout (e.g. allopurinol) – to better treat and prevent these conditions. We look forward to discussing and receiving your feedback on some of these possibilities in community hui and related meetings. Key messages about Gout 1. Hit the target <0.36 uric acid levels in your blood to avoid a gout attack. 2. Your gout is not ‘cured’ even if the pain goes away. Take your medication EVERY DAY. 3. Your genes play an important role in gout, not just your kai. 4. Drinks lots of water, milk isgood too. And avoid sugary drinks and food. Thanks and acknowledgements We recognise the commitment of many people in the successful continuation of this project and take this opportunity to thank the people who have participated and the research team, including technical staff, for taking care of and processing participants’ gifted samples. We also thank the funding bodies that recognise gout as an important disease to be researched and better understood, managed and treated in Tairāwhiti. The Health Research Council of New Zealand has been the major funder, with funding also coming from Lottery Health, the University of Otago and the Heart Foundation of New Zealand.

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