CDHB Your Health

MAORI HEALTH

Maori Health - Te Awa o Te Ora

" Tiakina te wai Maori kia pai rawa atu ki te rere, Kia ora ai te wairua a te tangata"

" Look after the river of life so that it flows beautiful, Sustaining life so the spirit is set free to nurture."

This whakatauki expresses the importance of Te Awa o te Ora, the river of life. Giving opportunities for whanau to nurture their inner spirit and utlilising the natural talents within us all. This is demonstrated through Maori arts and designs, horticulture, mahi whakairo, kapahaka, computer training and weaving to name but a few.

Whakapapa

In 1999, it was acknowledged that there was a need for whanau outside of hospital services and with this acknowledgement came the vision for the establishment of an activity centre. The result, Te Awa o te Ora and a relationship with the Canterbury District Health Board.

In 2000 a second contract was established with the Ministry of Health - Like Minds, Like Mine - promoting discriminatory behaviour facing mental health.

The Like Minds Like Mine project is presented by whanau to organisations like the police, Work and Income NZ and Polytechnics. It is designed to take away the fear and to focus on the mental illness.

Kaupapa Maaori

At Te Awa o te Ora we start off the day by asking for guidance and giving thanks to our Almighty Creator.

Our whole whaanau is highly dedicated to our kaupapa. We offer a place for people where they feel secure. A place where there is no discrimination and where people can come and say ‘hey I’m not feeling well today’ and that is fine.

Our kaitautoku and whaanau often work outside their hours and of their job descriptions to ensure that the whare is kept warm and safe.

The whaanau here determine our tikanga. We have two whaanau representatives on the Board of Trustees who are involved in making decisions, and to ensure that we keep to our tikanga. Decisions made are filtered from the board through to us at the grass roots.
We have about 120–140 whaanau access our facilities on a weekly basis. Our whare is not a drop-in centre, we have a whare to motivate and grow whaanau.

Taonga

Whaanau sometimes give the taonga that they have made. They are paid for this taonga as it is part of their mana they are giving. This is about their empowerment. This is our tikanga and our whaanau feel very empowered when they recognise this.

Te Reo Maaori

We encourage te reo Maaori to be spoken. Every Thursday morning we have a time for presentations. Everyone who speaks in te reo gets their name put into a kete. A name is drawn out and that person receives a taonga.

Monthly Hui

Whakawhaanaungatanga – the first Monday of every month. A hui where whaanau can come, relax and express any concerns they may have.
Whaanau outing – an outing to learn, have fun and whakawhaanaungatanga.
Waananga – every month we get together to learn and share in such things as mahi toi, arts and design, weaving, carving and tukutuku.