Te Aka Mauri has been highly commended by the judges at last night’s SOLGM Local Government Excellence Awards.

A collaboration between Rotorua Lakes Council and Lakes District Health Board, Te Aka Mauri – which is home to the Rotorua Library and the DHB’s Children’s Health Hub – celebrated its first birthday in February.

Last night’s commendation is the second time it has received national recognition.

In July 2018 Te Aka Mauri received the LGNZ excellence award for Service Delivery and Asset Management.

The 2019 BERL Award for Collaborative Government Action focusses on community benefits achieved through Council working with other local or central government agencies.

Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says the results speak for themselves.

“This recognition and the previous award confirm what we already know. This is an enduring partnership that will continue to deliver benefits to the community around wellbeing and learning.

“Te Aka Mauri is not only being showcased nationally but globally as well. The IUHPE World Health Conference, the largest of its kind, is in town this week and a visit to Te Aka Mauri is on the agenda. They can see the innovation that the rest of the country is beginning to discover.”

The Te Aka Mauri project came about when Council was looking to upgrade its Haupapa Street building including repairs and earthquake strengthening. At the same time the DHB wanted to establish a central, accessible centre for outpatient child health and family services, away from the hospital environment. One aim was to increase attendance at these services.

“This is such a positive example of what can happen when Councils and Government agencies work together in partnership,” says Mayor Chadwick.

“We can all be very proud of this wonderful facility which caters to everyone in our community.”

Rotorua Library Director Jane Gilbert and Children’s Health Hub Manager Bridget Wilson were at the gala to accept the commendation on behalf of both organisations.

Click here to see the Te Aka Mauri update presentation made to the Rotorua Lakes Council’s Operations and Monitoring Committee on 7 March 2019

What the judges said:

Te Aka Mauri is one of several great examples of the joined-up locally led solutions to local and national challenges that the Government is looking to promote. The entry has a number of practical examples where the delivery of a public health programme has been joined with what’s going on in the library. It’s also a shining example of turning a set of challenges into an opportunity, and then into a facility and combined service with great outcomes.

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