A total of six community leaders in health and social services as well as whānau and community development have been appointed to the Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) Regional Leadership Group (RLG) for Whānau Ora.

Charles Joe, Tania Kingi and new Pacific representatives Gayle Lafaiali’i, Dr Ofa Dewes, Fia T. Tupou and Reverend ‘Inoke Masima join current community members Peter Thomas and Dr Lorna Dyall on the Auckland RLG.

Whānau Ora is an inclusive whole-of-government approach in which families agree on solutions to meet their priorities, develop a ‘whānau plan’ or pathway for the future, and receive assistance to achieve their goals.

Thirty-four collectives representing more than 180 health and social service providers from throughout the country are working to develop and deliver this collaborative way of working for and with whānau.

A total of 10 RLGs represent Whānau Ora at a local and regional level, leading strategic change to ensure whānau-centred initiatives contribute in positive and realistic ways to their communities.

They also have an important role in considering funding proposals to support whānau.

RLG membership includes between three and seven community representatives as well as one representative each from Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Social Development and District Health Boards.

The Tāmaki Mākaurau (Auckland) RLG now has eight community members:

• Charles Joe (Waikato-Tainui, Taranaki) is a Pou Whakahaere (Associate Manager) overseeing the development of kaupapa Māori services at Auckland’s Mason Clinic – a forensic psychiatry mental health service with the Waitematā District Health Board. Charles has been involved in the Pukekohe Māori community for 40 years.
• Tania Kingi (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai, Te Arawa) has a long history of involvement in the social, health and disability sectors. As well as extensive management and governance experience, Tania has specialist strategic planning skills arising from her focus on integrating wellbeing services through community collaborations.
• Gayle Lafaiali’i (MEd, BA) (Samoan, Scottish) is a member of the Ministry of Education’s Auckland Pacific advisory group. Now working at Laidlaw College, Gayle was instrumental in the implementation of an integrated service delivery model, Whānau Tahi, for a Whānau Ora provider: Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust.
• Dr Ofa Dewes (Rotuman, Tongan, Tuvaluan, Ngāti Porou) – born and raised in Fiji – has a public administration and business management background. Currently a researcher at Auckland University’s School of Population Health, Dr Dewes has worked extensively in the public, private and international sectors.
• Fia T. Tupou (Samoan) has served on a number of boards including the South Auckland Family Violence Prevention Network, Sexual Abuse Foundation Education and the Māngere Community Board. She specialises in counselling and supervisory roles and has been a student guidance counsellor at various learning institutions.
• Reverend ‘Inoke Masima (Tongan) has been a tireless worker for the Wesleyan Church of Tonga and community for more than two decades. A cultural consultant for the Pacific mentor at Project K, Reverend Masima has been a counsellor and facilitator with Relationships Aotearoa in Manukau since 2010.
• Peter Thomas (Te Rarawa ki Hokianga, Ngāpuhi ki Hokianga) works in local government leading Māori service development in the largest public library system in Australasia. Peter has a long history in the health sector and public health with skills in both strategic advice and policy development and analysis.
• Dr Lorna Dyall (Ngāti Maniapoto) received the Queen’s Service Medal for services to Māori health in 2009. A senior Māori health lecturer, Dr Dyall has been instrumental in instigating the development of Māori health services and has contributed to numerous research publications as well as medical and social policy journals.

For more information about Whānau Ora, email whanauora@tpk.govt.nz or go to https://www.tpk.govt.nz/nga-putea-me-nga-ratonga/whanau-ora

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For more information, contact Whānau Ora Communications Adviser Vanessa Bidois on mobile +64 27 845 6152 or email bidov@tpk.govt.nz.