Media Release

6 November 2006

Whānau Ora Awards winners announced

The winners of the 2006 Whānau Ora Awards were announced in Wellington on Friday evening at a gala dinner to celebrate the achievements of the providers of Māori health and disability services throughout Aotearoa.

The supreme Award – Te Tohu Kahukura – went to a collaborative effort between Ngāti Porou Hauora from Te Puia Springs and Otago University. Working through Tairawhiti District Health Board, their ‘Ngāti & Healthy’ programme is designed to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes through community health promotion and education and was deemed by the judges to epitomise the concepts of sharing of knowledge and skills to benefit both the Māori and wider communities.

‘Ngāti & Healthy’ also won first place in the Whānau Whanui (large organisation) category, with the runner up being Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki of Thames (Waikato DHB) for their Integrated Whānau Ora initiative integrating mainstream and Māori, primary and secondary health services.

In the Whānau Rahi (medium-size organisation) category, the winner was Hora Te Pai Health Services of Paraparaumu (Capital & Coast DHB) for their Kaupapa Māori General Practice services within a Māori health provider and the runners up were Rau o te Huia Trust of Rotorua (Lakes DHB) for their programme of residential care and Kaupapa Māori mental health services.

Winners of the Whānau Whaiti (small organisation) category were Te Kotuku Hauora O Rangatikei of Marton (Whanganui DHB) with a “Health in Action” fitness and mobility initiative for Kamatua. Whakawhiti Ora Pai of Kaitaia (Northland DHB) were runners up for their “Hei Oranga te Iwi o Whakawhiti Ora Pai” community health and nutrition programme.

Kathy Grace, Services Development Manager of the Māori Health Directorate which hosted the event said the awards are a fitting showcase for the ongoing passion and professional development of Māori health providers.

"The awards serve to celebrate the successful whānau ora models of service delivery with the underlying qualities of innovation, quality and leadership."

The awards were presented by Associate Minister of Health, Hon Mita Ririnui.

ENDS

Whānau Ora Awards – 2006
Background

The vision for Whānau Ora was firmly established in 2002 in He Korowai Oranga, the Māori Health Strategy and the Whānau Ora vision reoriented the whole Māori health sector towards wellness and wholeness, demanding new approaches to ongoing health and disability issues.

In He Korowai Oranga Whānau Ora is about Māori families being supported to achieve their health and wellbeing. Whānau (kuia, koroua, pākēkē, rangatahi and tamariki) is recognised as the foundation of Māori society. As a principal source of strength, support, security and identity, whānau plays a central role in the wellbeing of Māori individually and collectively.

The inaugural Whānau Ora Awards in 2004 were designed to recognise Whānau Ora innovation in the Māori health sector. The awards programme was proposed in Whakatataka Tuatahi (Māori Health Action Plan) which was the action plan designed to progress the Māori health sector toward achieving Whānau Ora. The 2004 Awards were a huge success and response to the 2006 awards programme has also been tremendous.

Within the context of the awards, the Ministry aims to promote successful models of service delivery (or initiatives) that increase whānau health and wellbeing by building on the strengths and assets of whānau and Mäori communities. The focus is on Whānau Ora implementation and outcomes in the delivery of services to whānau, hapu iwi and Māori communities.

From over 35 applicants who asked to be considered for this year’s Whānau Ora Awards programme, twenty were selected as finalists in one of three categories. Small Māori Provider organsiations, (less than five employees or full time equivalent), Medium Mäori Providers (between five and twenty employees or full time equivalent) and Large Māori Provider organisations (more than twenty employees or full time equivalent).

In total this year there will be seven awards given, with runners-up and winners in each category and one Supreme overall winner. Judging is based on a high level view of Whānau Ora with innovation (creativity, responsiveness to need, unique design) quality (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic) and leadership (involving Māori at all levels of the sector, in decision-making, planning, development and delivery of services) being key judging criteria.

The judges for this year’s awards were Te Aniwa Tutara (General Manager Māori Health) for Waitemata DHB, Dr Tony Ruakere (General Practitioner and once Chief Advisor Māori Health, Ministry of Health) Joanne Hayes (Taumata Hauora Trust Māori Development Organisation representing Te Matarau, the Māori Development Organisations) and Teresa Wall (Acting Deputy-Director General, Māori Health Directorate, Ministry of Health).

2006 Whānau Ora Award Finalists

Category: Whānau Whaiti
1) Tipu Ora Private Training Establishment (Rotorua)
2) Whakawhiti Ora Pai Community Health Services (Kaitaia)
3) Te Kotuku Hauora O Rangitikei (Marton)
4) Te Puna Ora o Mataatua Charitable Trust (Whakatane)

Category: Whānau Rahi
1)  Frankton/Dinsdale Rauawaawa Charitable Trust (Hamilton)
2) Hapai te Hauora Tapui (Auckland)
3) He Oranga Pounamu (Christchurch)
4) Whaiora Whanui Trust (Wairarapa)
5) Te Whare Ngakau Trust (Christchurch)
6) Rau o te Huia Trust (Rotorua)
7) Hora Te Pai Health Services (Waikanae)
8) Te Kaokao o Takapau

Category: Whānau Whanui
1) Hauraki PHO (Thames)
2) Te Kupenga O Hoturoa PHO (Auckland)
3) Te Hauora O Te Hiku O Te Ika (Kaitaia)
4) Ngati Awa Social & Health Services (Whakatane)
5) Te Whanau Tokotokorangi Trust (Rotorua)
6) Korowai Aroha Health Centre (Rotorua)
7)  Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki (Thames)
8) Ngati Porou Hauora and Otago University (Te Puia)
Whānau Whaiti (small organisation)

First place
Te Kotuku Hauora O Rangatikei, Marton, (Whanganui DHB)

“Health in Action” fitness and mobility initiative for Kaumatua

Research, local knowledge, statistics and consultation said heart disease and diabetes were the major health issues for Māori in the Rangitikei, along with a host of other health issues which needed to be dealt with holistically. This also suggested the whole whänau should be on the move and on their way to physical well-being. Te Kotuku Hauora Fitness and Mobility Initiative includes exercise, education, tai chi and te ao matua kore, push play and line dancing. Programmes are on the marae and out in the community, promoted in the press, on the radio and on the website and the whole initiative is around promoting and providing opportunity for regular and safe exercise.

Runner up
Whakawhiti Ora Pai Community Health Services, Kaitaia, (Northland DHB)

“Hei Oranga te Iwi o Whakawhiti Ora Pai” community health and nutrition programme

As part of a drive to deliver appropriate programmes to its four communities Whakawhiti Ora Pai consulted with them though marae meetings, community newsletters and surveys. The result has been the provision of a nutrition programme, using fresh produce as the basis for learning preparation, preservation, recipes, traditional knowledge and values and encouraging whänau responsibility.

Launched in Te Kao, the programme has been delivered into the other communities via marae, schools and as computer lessons. The programme is clearly aligned to the organisation’s overall goal to support kaumatua and kuia transfer skills and knowledge to younger generations. The outcome has been stronger community relationships, shared knowledge and a much greater appreciation of resources and resourcefulness.

Whānau Rahi (medium-size organisation)First place
Hora Te Pai Health Services, Paraparaumu, (Capital & Coast DHB)

Kaupapa Māori GP services within a Māori health provider

Hora Te Pai Health Services is the only Māori health service providing primary health services to Māori living between Paekakariki and Pekapeka. Over the past decade Hora Te Pai has successfully integrated a fulltime on site General Practice service into its service delivery. Today those over 64 and under 18 are not charged for GP services.

Having the GP service on site means being able to offer holistic care. As they are leasing a wing at the Kapiti Health Centre, where all secondary services are housed, it also means they can work collaboratively with many other Capital & Coast District Health Board services.

The service has grown significantly in admin staff, registered nurses, community health workers and GPs. It has gained Quality Health New Zealand Accreditation. Supported by a sound practice management system, empowered staff and staunch commitment to the kaupapa it has ‘on the map’ when it comes to GP services.

Runner up
Rau o te Huia Trust, Rotorua, (Lakes DHB)

Residential care – Kaupapa Māori mental health services

In 1993, significant issues were identified for Māori in mental health in the Lakes/BOP region including the need for a specific kaupapa Māori service in the area. Rau o Te Huia (ROTH) was established, and by 2000 was recognized as a leading kaupapa Mäori service provider in Lakes/BOP regions. Today they have three kaupapa Māori residential 24 hour care facilities with 19 beds.Since 2000 they have also offered Tamariki mental health services and Rongoa Māori services. They have been accoladed by Poutiri Trust for most innovative service twice in recent years. The diverse ROTH team includes management, clinical workers, kaumatua, tohunga, whānau workers and rangatahi reps. They provide services that are similar to the korowai –wraparound approach from tamariki ora to adults, walking the talk of whānau ora.

Whānau Whanui (large organisation)

First place (and winners of Te Tohu Kahukura, the Supreme Award)
Ngati Porou Hauora and Otago University, Te Puia Springs, (Tairawhiti DHB)“Ngāti and Healthy” diabetes prevention programme - education, education/promotion (health and exercise) and health monitoring

Ngāti Porou Hauora has 13, 000 enrolled clients, provides low or no cost health care through multidisciplinary primary health care teams based in eight community clinics.
The initiative Ngāti & Healthy is taking place in coastal communities with a population of 6000. It is a collaborative project with Otago University’s Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research and it is about sharing knowledge and skill at both community and professional levels. The goal is to reduce risk for Type 2 diabetes for the largely Mäori communities after research showed 52 percent of Māori aged 25 plus in those communities had some level of impaired glucose metabolism.

It is a three pronged approach involving community health promotion, community education and structural work with shops and schools and includes awareness and action, nutrition and exercise.

While Ngāti Pouoru Hauora works on community development, the Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research provides knowledge about nutrition and diabetes risk prevention as well as research for measuring outcomes.

Two years on from start up the initiative has certainly focused the organisation’s health promotion efforts and upskilled staff in health promotion and research. It has also strengthened local networks across all sectors.

Runner up
Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki, Thames, (Waikato DHB)

Integrated Whānau Ora

This initiative integrates mainstream and Māori, primary and secondary services.

Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki works collaboratively with a mainstream partner, Thames Hospital, on behalf of Māori to improve access to secondary services, reduce anxiety around admission and to provide relevant information and support.

While Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki is building capacity to become a single point of entry to all pre-primary and primary care services, they also recognize their value as an entry point to secondary services as well.

The specific goal has been to minimise DNAs (no shows) for Thames Hospital among people enrolled with the service. This involves extensive communication with Thames Hospital staff and whānau, good management systems, great networks and highly effective kaiawhina. No show rates have dropped from over 60 percent to almost zero.

For more information please contact:
Paula Yeatman
Ph:   (09) 529 4201
Mobile:   (027) 483 0021