When the Delta outbreak hit Aotearoa, Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki knew the way to get their whānau and iwi tested and vaccinated was to take the clinics to them.
Published: Tuesday, 21 September 2021 | Rātū, 21 Mahuru, 2021
Riana Manuel, manukura hauora (chief executive) of Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki said, “Once again we have risen to the challenge that Covid-19 brings.”
“Our rōpū of kaimahi started right away with swabbing centres and clinics not only in Hauraki and Waikato but across the motu partnering with services in Auckland and Wellington, on top of our usual workloads.”
“The funds from Te Puni Kōkiri helped us secure a project manager, put in place emergency response plans, and brings together 10 marae to respond in the best way for our people across Hauraki and parts of Waikato.”
Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki received $110,00 from the Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities Fund (BSRC). This was instrumental in their response to the Delta Covid-19 outbreak and has set the Hauraki community in good stead moving forward. Te Puni Kōkiri invests in capability and provides resources to support iwi and Māori organisations to build sustainable and resilient communities.
Leading the way with their Mobile Whānau Health Clinic aka the vax van at Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki, which tests and vaccinates against Kowheori-19 that supports the iwi, hapū, whānau and wider communities.
“We’ve partnered with Te Puna Hauora Matua o Hauraki, Waikato District Health Board and our local whānau, hapū, iwi, marae and rolled out static and mobile vaccination centres,” said Manuel.
“With the pūtea tautoko from Te Puni Kōkiri we made the money work for our people here and across Hauraki from Moehau to Te Aroha and everything in between.
“Having that mobile health clinic, aka our van, and the right people, give us more options in how we can better serve our community by cutting out their transport costs that otherwise could stop them coming to us.
“The mobile team has been actively vaccinating at our local community centres, car parks and marae over the past 17 weeks and will continue to provide this service to ensure we reach more of our whānau," Manuel said.
“I want to thank all of our kaimahi for the outstanding effort they put in every time Covid-19 rears its head. We understand this will be our response every time, and to our whānau here in Hauraki for your support of our kaupapa.”
Te Puni Kōkiri, regional director (acting) for Waikato-Waiāriki, Ataraita Jacob said: “Working with Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki in getting the right people and resources to their communities during a pandemic is exactly why the fund supports rōpū Māori to create those sustainable and resilient communities.”