March 04, 2022
Iwi unity forged in Covid response
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Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei is redeploying staff as it works with other Māori organisations in Tāmaki Makaurau to deal with the Omicron surge.
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Māia chief executive Rangimarie Hunia says it has built up a team of 70 doing testing and vaccination, and many of those kaimahi are now working to support whānau in isolation.
It’s also having to deal with staff who can’t work because they have Covid or are household contacts.
She says the relationships built up with other Māori organisations over the pandemic are proving critical.
“Saving Māori lives has been the absolute kaupapa matua for everybody and doing that together is the only way that we can deliver the stellar service that everyone has done and if you look at how we have been able to manage here in Tāmaki, we never would have been able to do all the things we have done alone,” Ms Hunia says.
The cooperation can be seen in this weekend’s Ira NŌTA campaign, where members of the rangatahi-focused Get Ya Dot campaign head north to hand out vaccinations and prizes at Te Uri o Hina Marae and Mana House in Kaitaia.