One of the first programmes to come out of pūtea ring fenced for Māori initatives from the Government’s $455 million investment in new community mental health and addiction services was launched at Lake Ōkāreka near Rotorua this morning.
Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare says Poutama Ora is a mental health and addiction service designed by and for Māori.
The community based service is intended to be the first point of contact for people experiencing mild to moderate mental distress or addiction issues.
He says Poutama Ora will use methodologies such pūrākau storytelling and culturally relevant activities to identify, understand and address mental distress and addiction issues.
"The hope is if we can continue to show mātauranga Māori will continue to serve our people, we will see these kaupapa pop up all over the country utilising local mātauranga Māori in order to support our whanau," Mr Henare says.
Poutama Ora will be delivered in the Rotorua area by Te Arawa Whānau Ora Charitable Trust and Korowai Aroha Charitable Trust, while in Taupō it will be by Tūwharetoa Health Charitable Trust.
!["p_facebook"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/facebook.jpg")
& !["p_twitter"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/twitter.jpg")
Copyright © 2021, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
