Whānau came together this past weekend at Taumarunui Hospital for the annual Hauora Day that was supported by a range of health specialists, community service providers and health teams.
We’d like to tautoko three wahine for their dedication organising this outstanding event. Atarina Peta, a health promoter from Taumarunui, and Willow Brady and Briar Downes from the Screening Team of the Waikato National Public Health Service.
Their leadership created a space where whānau could share their experiences and access vital health support. Community teams included National Hauora Coalition kaimahi, the Te Nehenehenui Health Bus, and the Ngāti Maniapoto Marae PACT Trust who provided information, advice, and resources.
Our Te Tiratū Whānau Voice team listened to whānau in Taumarunui as they shared the realities of accessing healthcare, highlighting common themes of long travel for services, gaps in local care, transport challenges, pressures on mental health and addiction support, and the difficulty many face navigating the health system.
Hāpū Māmā often travel six hours for ultrasounds due to the lack of local facilities, and there is no respite or hospice care available nearby.
Long waits for MRIs, cardiology scans, and GP appointments create stress and anxiety, while pharmacy hours are limited, forcing whānau to travel significant distances for medication. Public transport, such as the health bus, often requires better support, safer conditions, and kaumātua guidance to ensure whānau can travel with confidence.
Mental health and wellbeing were a major focus. Rangatahi anxiety and the pressures on grandparents raising grandchildren due to adult children struggling with meth use were recurring concerns. Many whānau expressed uncertainty about how to support those affected by addiction and highlighted the lack of services for gambling and other behavioural challenges.
The day also revealed gaps in health services, including a need for diabetes programs, sleep clinics, physiotherapy, and rongoā Māori services in Taumarunui. Whānau often face challenges navigating complex health systems, including ICAMS referral processes for infant, child, and adolescent mental health. Reduced Kaitiaki staffing, conflicting medical advice, and inconsistent oral health and counselling services add to the strain.
Despite the challenges raised, whānau also shared positive experiences. Asthma Waikato provided helpful online consultations, Awhi Healthy Homes responded quickly to urgent housing needs, and Te Puawaitanga counselling support was highly valued by those who had accessed it.
Whānau spoke clearly about what they need, like culturally safe services, local advocacy, support to navigate the health system, and more accessible health programmes closer to home.
Taumarunui Hauora Day highlighted both the strength and resilience of the hapori, and the urgent need to improve access to health services locally that Te Tiratū Iwi Māori Partnership Board is exploring further in its soon-to-be-released town-by-town Hauora Report on health access and equity.
Photo: Te Tiratū Iwi Māori Partnership Board kaimahi Megan Tunks of Whānau Voice with Te Whatu Ora kaimahi – Willow Brady , Briar Downs and Atarina Peta who is the Health Promoter based in Taumarunui Hospital.