Rāhina 9 Hune | Monday 9th June

Kia ora e te whānau! We are 6 months into the New Year, and so much has happened…. Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou have had a very productive month.

Sit down and make yourself comfortable as you read what the team have been up to during Mei (May) and what we have planned for Hune (June)!

Opinion editorial written by Dr. Nethmi Kearns - Public Health Registrar

Transformative Change Framework for Mauri Ora in Porirua
This framework illustrates how high-level outcomes, big picture actions, and enablers/stakeholders work together, driven by access, workforce, and community connections to achieve Mauri Ora: complete health and well-being for all in Porirua.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s health and well-being system is under immense pressure. Decades of chronic underinvestment have resulted in cumulative decline. Our hospitals are overwhelmed, our health workforce is stretched thin, and our primary care services are struggling to keep up. 

Despite efforts to address health inequities, too many communities, particularly in Porirua, still face systemic barriers that prevent them from living well. Short-term, reactive approaches dominate our system, prioritising immediate fixes over long-term, sustainable solutions. Too often, our health system operates as a “patch and dispatch” service: treat the crisis, then discharge people back to cold homes, empty cupboards, and the same cycle of illness. It’s costing lives.  

We can no longer afford a system that treats symptoms while ignoring the causes. Poor housing, energy hardship, food insecurity, and systemic racism all undermine health outcomes. When whānau do not have stable housing, warm homes, or nutritious kai, their physical, mental, and social well-being suffers. 

We Need an AND-AND Approach 
It’s time to move beyond “either-or” thinking. We must prioritise both acute care and the prevention of illness. This means shifting to a community-led, integrated approach that tackles the social determinants of health head-on. 

A Holistic Vision for Well-being 
At Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou, we believe well-being is built through strong communities, not just hospitals and medicines. This includes: 

• Housing as a health priority: Every whānau deserves a secure, affordable, and healthy home.
   
• Equitable energy access: No one should have to choose between heating their home or feeding their tamariki.
   
• Kai security: Nutritious food should be a basic right, not a privilege.
   
• Cultural safety in healthcare: Services must reflect and respect Māori and Pasifika worldviews. 
   
• Partnership-driven change: Real change comes when government, iwi, community organisations, and funders work together. 

Aotearoa’s commitment to Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) offers a critical opportunity to transform our health system, but policy alone isn’t enough. We need long-term and sustained investment, authentic partnerships with communities and the courage to challenge the status quo. Local and national decision-makers must back intersectoral solutions, listen deeply to communities, and support innovative models that empower whānau to lead their own well-being journeys. 

Join the Movement 
Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou is ready to lead, but we cannot do it alone. We invite funders, policymakers, and community leaders to join us in reimagining health and well-being in Porirua. Let’s build a system where every person, whānau, and community doesn’t just survive but truly thrives. 

#PoriruaCommunityPower#PoriruaThriving#ReimaginingPorirua

WELLfed Gardens in Cannons Creek, Porirua

Real Change Starts in the Community: Leilani’s Story 

The power of a community-led, holistic approach is best seen in the story of Leilani, a 50-year-old Pacific woman living in Porirua with her husband and young son. 

For over two decades, Leilani lived on a benefit. Six months ago, she weighed 260kg, required insulin for Type II diabetes, and rarely left her home. She had lost motivation, spent most of her time on the couch, and struggled with basic daily tasks. Like many others, her circumstances were shaped by a lack of access to nutritious food, stable employment, and meaningful support systems. 

That changed when Leilani joined the WELLfed Diabetes Programme, a community initiative enabled by Te Wāhi Tiaki Tātou that focused not only on managing diabetes, but on addressing the underlying determinants of health: 

• Kai security: Leilani learned how to prepare healthy, affordable meals using fresh produce from the community garden.
   
• Life skills and education: She joined WELLfed’s workshops on cooking, budgeting, CV writing, and is now studying for her learner's licence. 
   
• Social connection and confidence: Through a welcoming environment, she rebuilt her confidence and began re-engaging with her community. 

In just two terms, Leilani lost 130kg, reduced her smoking from a pack a day to just three cigarettes, and is now working part-time. Most importantly, her transformation has inspired her son—who once saw benefits as a future—to now aspire to paid employment and independence.  

Leilani’s story is a powerful reminder that health doesn't begin in hospitals, it begins in homes, kitchens, classrooms, and communities. When we invest in community-based solutions that tackle the causes, we create lasting change that ripples across generations. 

Working Together for Rangatahi: Highlights from the Rangatahi Mental Health Symposium

On May 29th, providers, advocates, and changemakers from across the Wellington region gathered at Pātaka in Porirua for a full-day symposium focused on the mental health and well-being of rangatahi. The event was an opportunity to strengthen relationships, share powerful kōrero, and collectively reimagine systems that put young people at the centre.

The symposium featured four key speakers, each bringing a different lens and lived experience to the kaupapa:

• Reo Va’a opened the day with heartfelt insights from his work as a counsellor over the years and more recently at The502 in Porirua.
   
• Dr. Wendy Allan offered perspectives as a clinical psychologist in working with complex trauma, grounded in her work on the Relational Learning Framework.
   
• Catherine Daniels (a.k.a The Secretkeeper), author and artist, shared her powerful journey of healing from trauma and abuse and the importance of holding speaking up and holding space with care.
   
• Dr. Sascha Feary, psychiatry registrar, closed the speaker sessions with reflections that wove the day’s themes together and provided us with insights on ‘Predictive Processing’ and the need for us to be engaged in an ongoing active process of understanding ourselves and the world.
   

The final networking session offered an opportunity for providers to connect more deeply, share whakaaro, and offer heartfelt reflections on the day’s kaupapa.

“Awesome day. Really uplifting from start to finish… amped to go share with the team what I took away from today.”
 — Irasa, National Public Health Service

“With Catherine, the standout was, you had a safe space, but they abused it… My takeaway is how am I going to turn up for my rangatahi, giving that safe space and knowing when to and when not to.”
 — Pagan, Cannons Creek Boxing Academy

“I appreciate the beautiful mix you have given us… the playfulness you brought to today, the wonderful content, and the big community of people working with our tamariki and rangatahi.”
 — Linda, Big Brothers Big Sisters

We are grateful to everyone who helped shape this day, from the organising team and speakers to every attendee (both in person and on-line) who brought their voice, their story, and their commitment to supporting rangatahi.

A special thank you also goes out to our funders Atareira and CAMHS, Te Whatu Ora|Health NZ for making this kaupapa possible, and to our incredible MCs, Latu To'omaga and Ane Alipia from The502, who held the room with warmth, humour and care amidst some heavy but important kōrero.

#PoriruaCommunityPower#PoriruaRangatahiThriving#PoriruaRangatahiWellbeing

Manaaki Mocha: A Space for Connection, Care and Cuppas

Manaaki Mocha has been developed in direct response to the kōrero shared during the Tāngata Whaikaha Reimagining Session, where our community highlighted the need for local peer support networks, spaces that feel welcoming, mana-enhancing, and free of judgement. Many shared how isolating it can feel when people don’t feel seen or understood.

This relaxed drop-in is a small but meaningful step — a space for Tāngata Whaikaha and their whānau to connect, unwind, and enjoy the company of others who “get it.” Whether you’re popping in for a warm cuppa or to share a laugh, you’re welcome here.

We encourage others to develop services that reflect the lived experiences and aspirations of Tāngata Whaikaha — just as they asked for during the Reimagining process.

Read the full session report: Reimagining Porirua – Tāngata Whaikaha

Check out our Local Service Directory for more services and supports available to Tāngata Whaikaha and their whānau in Porirua.

Nau mai, haere mai – come and join us!
#ReimaginingPorirua#PoriruaMaanaki
Click the link below to register or see the poster below for more details.

We have another drug checking clinic happening this weekend as part of our Pathways to Healing: Community Support in Reducing Drug Harm campaign this weekend!

These clinics are built on a foundation of trust and support, offering a free, legal, and confidential service that empowers individuals to make safer choices.

By creating a compassionate, nonjudgmental space, we encourage people to check their substances in a safe environment. Through promoting informed decision-making, we’re working to reduce stigma and strengthen a sense of community care.

#ReduceDrugHarm#PoriruaManaaki

Te Rerenga o Porirua has been developed in response to the Reimagining sessions, where our community consistently voiced the need for service providers to truly see, hear, and understand them.

This kaupapa is about growing understanding, building trust, and strengthening relationships across our sector.

We have a limited number of free sessions available until the end of August — don’t miss out!

#PoriruaCommunityLedChange#TeRerengaOPorirua 

Improving Access to Healthcare in Porirua: Nurse-in-Pharmacy Service Now Available

Life Pharmacy North City has launched a Nurse-in-Pharmacy service, now available 7 days a week. This service is free for tamariki under 14 and Community Services Card holders, with free virtual GP appointments also available (conditions apply). Located inside North City Shopping Centre near the New World entrance, it offers a new, convenient option for whānau needing timely care.

This is a fantastic initiative that strongly aligns with what we’ve consistently heard from the Porirua community, that access to healthcare can be difficult, especially when trying to get a GP appointment.

It’s encouraging to see services like this responding to real need. The Porirua Health and Wellbeing Action Plan highlights Community, Access, and Workforce as key threads that must run through all our collective efforts. This new service supports those values and we’re proud to endorse initiatives that make it easier for whānau to get the care they deserve.

#AccessMatters #PoriruaCommunityinAction

Your feedback is important to us. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please email us at healthreform@ngatitoa.iwi.nz