September 08, 2022
Kaupapa Maori mental health services for Tai Poutini
West Coast kaupapa Māori health provider Poutini Waiora has received $2 million to meet a growing demand for mental health and addiction, services.
The funding will cover 11 clinical roles to tackle mental health issues and addiction, support whanau to access affordable kai, and provide access to traditional healing.
Acting chief executive Lisa Tumahai says the community has been crying out for 20 years for the services, which it is calling Hikoi Manaaki.
“The beauty of what we have been able to do is design the service from the ground up, not from out of Wellington, so it is very kaupapa Maori focused, there are strong cultural elements in the service, so we are looking forward to standing that up and rolling that model out,” she says.
The funding was announced yesterday by Associate Minister of Health Peeni Henare at Arahura Marae near Hokitika.