Waka Hourua celebrates what’s working in Māori and Pasifika suicide prevention

On 19 and 20 November, Māori and Pasifika national suicide prevention programme Waka Hourua held its first national hui-fono in Auckland. The theme was Whakarauika Mai: Bringing Communities Together to Prevent Suicide in Aotearoa. 

Hosted by the Waka Hourua Leadership Group, the hui-fono was an opportunity to share knowledge and new learnings about Māori and Pasifika suicide prevention. 

Over two days attendees heard from inspirational leaders, researchers and community groups about their work and their suicide prevention initiatives.

Key highlights included presentations from four community organisations, Mika Haka Foundation, Takarei Ruha Whānau Trust, Kinetic Wayfinding and Youth T.E.A.M

Trust, who shared suicide prevention initiatives being supported by the Waka Hourua Community Fund. Māori researchers Dr Keri Lawson-Aho and Dr Catherine
Love (Koru Institute) and Pasifika researcher Dr Jemaima Tiatia-Seath (Hibiscus Research) presented their research projects. In addition, broadcaster Jenny-May Coffin, hip-hop artist King Kapisi and life coach Maui Te Pou shared their stories and injected inspiration into the programme.

Other speakers at the hui included Professor Sir Mason Durie (Waka Hourua Leadership Group Chair) Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean and Te Pou Matakana Chair, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait. Programme partner chief executives, Dr Monique Faleafa (Le Va) and Marama Parore (Te Rau Matatini) were pleased with the hui-fono outcomes.

Marama Parore says the hui-fono was an excellent opportunity to explore what Waka Hourua means, what it looks like and how it’s working. “Hearing about the work of our community organisations and researchers is very rewarding,” she says.

“It’s exciting to imagine what’s being achieved throughout Aotearoa with the support of the Waka Hourua Community Fund.”

Dr Monique Faleafa, who shared Le Va’s Pasifika for Life work stream called FLO agrees that being able to share programme achievements has been important. “We all have important perspectives to bring to this work and our work through Waka Hourua and throughout Aotearoa is about addressing suicide by growing hope and resilience, and building strong, resilient families and communities.”

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