Service Delivery Fails Whanau Ora

Service Delivery Fails Whanau Ora

www.healthstarpacific.co.nz

Health Star Pacific Trust (HSPT) a non government organization in Auckland that delivers health services has come out in support of the Whanau Ora service.

In a press release last week, the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters accused Whanau Ora Minister Tariana Turia for trying to say that the case of a Dunedin-based gang using Whanau Ora funds to buy cannabis was an ‘isolated’ incident’.

“Whanau Ora funding has been used for touchy-feely family reunions, rugby games, as well as by gangs to buy cannabis,” according to the release.

“There is nothing to suggest this kind of activity won’t continue to be funded through Whanau Ora – a scheme that is a tragedy for both taxpayers and Maori,” said Mr. Peters.

But according to Teleiai Edwin Puni, former HSPT Board chairman, “The failure is not with the Whanau Ora vision and philosophy, the failure is with the way the service is being delivered.”

Teleiai is referring not only to the need to have clear guidelines to prevent activities as correctly pointed out by Mr. Peters, but for providers to be able to utilise the Whanau Ora framework in a meaningful way to deliver Better, Sooner and More Convenient health services.

Teleiai said, “We are aware of GP services that have the Whanau Ora service who are struggling to utilise the Whanau Ora framework to improve their services. From our experience, the Whanau Ora service certainly contributed to turning the curve for some of the most difficult cases we had.”

Last August, Whanau Ora Minister Tariana Turia was invited by Health Star Pacific to see and hear first hand from ten Pacific and Maori families how the Whanau Ora service helped them to help themselves with positive outcomes.

The Samoan mother and her six children who were relocated after the Christchurch earthquake to a small three bedroom house in Glen Innes said, “Because of the Whanau Ora Service through Health Star Pacific and support of MP Peseta and his office, we now live in a bigger and healthier home. There is no more admission to Starship hospital for my newborn twin.”

One of the young couples thanked the Minister, “Because of the parenting course we both attended that was funded by the Whanau Ora service, we have learnt to value each other, no more arguments and fighting at our home. We are now better role models to our children.”

The Tongan mother whose child was in the Health Star Pacific ADHB service said, “On behalf of my family, I want to say we highly value the support of the Whanau Ora service. We now have a warm home. My daughter’s asthma is in control and now attending school regularly.”

Teleiai said, “Health Star Pacific embraces the Whanau Ora philosophy of self determination. With a little help through the Whanau Ora service, we can also make a difference to reduce family violence, minimise readmission to hospitals and ensure children do not miss out from getting a good education because of poor health.

Health Star Pacific was part of the Alliance Health Plus (AH+) Pacific Collective business case that was successful to deliver Whanau Ora for Pacific in Auckland. Health Star Pacific has since moved to National Hauora Coalition and had written to Te Puni Kōkiri requesting to continue delivering the Whanau Ora service.

ENDS

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