West Coast Focuses on Wellbeing
Media Release
A Takiwā Poutini gathering yesterday for iwi, community members and West Coast agencies involved in wellbeing will undoubtedly result in improvements, organisers say.
The Takiwā Poutini Localities Prototype was set up last year to identify changes needed to improve wellbeing outcomes, including finding new ways of working that put communities at the centre of design and planning.
Takiwā Poutini Governance Group Chair Kevin Hague says about 90 people attended the workshop in Greymouth to pave the way for change.
“This was a chance to meet others involved in wellbeing, find out where we’re up to with the Takiwā Poutini Locality plan, and understand the priorities that came out of the community and whānau voice engagement.
“But also, this is where we asked those present to be part of designing what the Takiwā Poutini way of doing things in the future looks like – things like how we co-design, how we plan for equity, how we put people front and centre.
“We need real everyday West Coasters and mana whenua to sit alongside those of us working for agencies (who also live, work and play on the West Coast), to agree on the vision, set short, medium and long-term goals for wellbeing, and agree the initial action plan. The system we build together will also draw on other research and data, alongside community and whānau voice.”
Highlights of the hui included the mix of representatives of around 50 different organisations from Buller to Westland, talking to individuals keen to see wellbeing outcomes changing for the better.
“We heard some great examples of work already being done with whānau at the centre, and people were excited about working together on initiatives. We focused on the areas identified through the last few months of engagement as the key priorities for Coasters,” Mr Hague says.
Talking about the hui at its conclusion, comments from participants included:
“What I am heartened by is the ‘we-ness’. We have all come here today to build the system from the ground up. If we get this right we will win.”
“There is a different feel in the room today, a sense of anticipation. That’s the challenge for Takiwā Poutini, to pick up that anticipation and carry it forward. It’s about enabling and empowering the community to transform the health provision to work for them.”
“I feel Whanau Ora here today – He tangata, He tangata, he tangata. We have all the same goals. Whakataukī: Alone we are broken, together we are invincible.”
“There are a lot of clever, intelligent people in the room, a lot of agencies. But it’s about people being passionate about people.”
An in-depth report of Takiwā Poutini’s recent engagement with people across the West Coast is available on www.takiwapoutini.nz.
ENDS
Note to editors: More information about Localities is available on the Te Whatu Ora website – Localities – Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
Takiwā Poutini refers to the West Coast (Poutini) district (Takiwā).
