Maniapoto rising: “We know what works”

Our Whānau Voice kaimahi and Tumu Whakarae attended a recent hui held at Te Kūiti, hosted by Maniapoto Marae Pact Trust where a strong and heartfelt kōrero unfolded about the state of hauora for whānau across the Maniapoto rohe.

Frontline kaimahi, whānau navigators, and community leaders — including CEO Shirley Turner — came together to shine a light on what’s working, what whānau are asking for, and where the system is falling short.

“Our people know what works — we just need the system to back us,” Shirley said.

Maniapoto Marae Pact Trust offers a suite of integrated health and social services designed to walk alongside whānau, ensuring every door is the right door. These include:

• Kaiārahi Services – placing whānau at the centre, helping them define and lead their own goals across multiple service areas.
• Whānau Direct – offering fast, flexible support when whānau need it most.
• Disability support and mental health services, including social workers in schools.
• Tamariki Ora – a standout success story. The Tamariki Ora nurse and whānau navigator work together in the community, achieving strong immunisation rates despite not receiving equitable funding.

The Trust also contributes to Healthy Families Te Kūiti, with locals like Michelle Wi running weekly Māra Kai workshops on preserving, pickling, and food sovereignty — all part of a wider push for long-term wellbeing.

Shirley was clear about how the Trust works, “Whānau are in the driver’s seat — and that’s how it should be. Our services walk with them, not ahead of them.”

Systemic Challenges Undermining Equity

Despite these local strengths, systemic failures continue to undermine outcomes for Maniapoto whānau.

One striking example shared at the hui was of a kuia who was rushed by ambulance to Waikato Hospital with minimal belongings, only to be sent home later in a shuttle and left on the roadside.

It was only thanks to a member of the public contacting a local health worker that she made it home safely. This case highlights the urgent need for a more responsive, automatic travel support process — particularly around the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme.

“There needs to be a built-in, automatic system for whānau travel vouchers — not an afterthought.”

Other systemic concerns raised include:

• Falling through administrative cracks in post-hospital care and transport.
• No sustainable funding model for high-performing but underfunded services like Tamariki Ora.
• The need for better wellbeing measurement tools that reflect whānau realities.
• A desire for more regular, locally based specialist outreach, especially for kaumātua and kuia.

Networks and Ngā Kaupapa o te Rohe

The hui also acknowledged the strength of local collaborations — such as the Waitomo Community Health Forum and initiatives like Harvest to Home and Wai to Kai, which focus on food resilience, sovereignty, and wellbeing.

The message from Maniapoto is clear: local, kaupapa Māori solutions are working — but they need resourcing and system-level support.

“We’re seeing positive outcomes because our services reflect the lived reality of our whānau. But without equity in funding and process, our people continue to carry the cost,” said one kaimahi.