Nā Hora Kairangi Nicholas tēnei atikara

Poutini Waiora has entered a new chapter, opening the doors to a purpose-built facility in Māwhera (Greymouth) that leaders say will strengthen the way healthcare is delivered to whānau across Te Tai Poutini.

The kaupapa Māori health and social service provider officially opened the $3.2 million building on Monday 10 August, nearly 30 years after the organisation was established. Built on whenua owned by Poutini Ngāi Tahu through Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae and Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, the facility has been designed to support the organisation's growing range of services while allowing room for expansion.

"This building is right in the middle of Māwhera and right in the heart of community” says Operations Manager, Zee Tana.

Tana says this decision reflects the way the organisation approaches healthcare noting that the new facility is about more than providing clinical services, it is about creating a space where whānau feel safe, connected and comfortable to seek support.

"A lot of whānau that we've worked with may not trust the services that are out there. We have… a real hono, and a responsibility to be a part of our community.”

He says the building also creates opportunities for Poutini Waiora to work more closely with other organisations to improve equity and access to healthcare across the West Coast. The facility brings together primary healthcare, mental health and addiction support, Rongoā Māori, whānau support with kai as well as Whānau Ora services, while dedicated whānau spaces have been designed to make visitors feel at home.

More than 100 people attended the official opening, where whānau from Poutini Ngāi Tahu led a blessing to formally open the building.

"The cost of living, the cost of schooling, the cost of fuel. There's a whole lot of pressures on whānau." Māngai, Lisa Tumahai says the need for wraparound support continues to grow as many families face ongoing financial pressures.

She says the purpose-built facility gives Poutini Waiora the ability to respond to those challenges by providing a broader range of services in one location.

Designed with future growth in mind, the new headquarters includes space for additional staff and the potential for other agencies to work alongside Poutini Waiora, creating a more connected approach to supporting whānau across Te Tai Poutini.

Ka tūwhera te kāinga hou o Poutini Waiora mō te hauora ā-hapori

Kua kuhu atu a Poutini Waiora ki tētahi wāhanga hou o tōna hītori, whai muri i te whakatuwheratanga o tōna tari hou ki Māwhera. E ai ki ngā kaiārahi, mā tēnei whare ka whakapakari ake te tuku ratonga hauora ki ngā whānau puta noa i Te Tai Poutini.

I whakatuwheratia te whare hou, e $3.2 miriona te utu, i te Mane te 10 o Ākuhata. Tata ki te 30 tau i muri i te whakatūnga o te ratonga hauora Māori nei, kua tū tōna whare hanga motuhake tuatahi. E tū ana te whare ki runga i te whenua nō Poutini Ngāi Tahu, mā Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae rāua ko Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio, ā, kua waihangatia ki te tautoko i te whānuitanga o ngā ratonga e tipu haere ana, me te whakarite hoki mō te whanaketanga ā muri ake nei.

"This building is right in the middle of Māwhera and right in the heart of community."

Hei tā te Kaiwhakahaere Raupapa, a Zee Tana, e whakaatu ana tēnei ratonga i te āhua o tā rātou kaupapa. Hei tāna, ehara te whare hou i te wāhi mō ngā ratonga anake, engari he wāhi e tau ai te ngākau o te whānau, e whakapakari ai ngā hononga, ā, e māhorahora ai te tono āwhina.

"A lot of whānau that we've worked with may not trust the services that are out there. We have … a real hono, and a responsibility to be a part of our community."

Hei tāna anō, mā te whare hou ka māmā ake te mahi ngātahi me ētahi atu rōpū kia whakapai ake ai te tauritetanga me te wātea o ngā ratonga hauora ki Te Tai Poutini. Ka whakakotahingia ki raro i te tuanui kotahi ngā ratonga hauora tuatahi, ngā ratonga hauora hinengaro me te waranga, te Rongoā Māori, te tautoko kai mō ngā whānau me ngā ratonga Whānau Ora. Kua hangaia hoki he wāhi motuhake kia tau, kia hāneanea ai te noho a te whānau.

Neke atu i te kotahi rau ngā tāngata i tae atu ki te whakatuwheratanga, ā, nā ngā whānau o Poutini Ngāi Tahu te karakia whakatapu i whakahaere hei whakatuwhera i te whare.

Hei tā te māngai o tōna hapū o Poutini Ngāi Tahu, a Lisa Tumahai, e kaha tonu ana te piki o te hiahia mō ngā ratonga tautoko whānui i te mea e pēhia tonutia ana ngā whānau e te utu nui o te noho.

"The cost of living, the cost of schooling, the cost of fuel. There's a whole lot of pressures on whānau."

Hei tāna, mā te whare hanga motuhake nei ka kaha ake a Poutini Waiora ki te whakatutuki i aua hiahia mā te whakarato i te whānuitanga ake o ngā ratonga ki te wāhi kotahi.

I hangaia te tari hou me te whakaaro nui ki ngā rā kei mua, ā, kua whakaritea he wāhi mō te whakawhānui i ngā kaimahi me te whai wāhi mai o ētahi atu rōpū ki te mahi ngātahi, kia kotahi ake ai te huarahi tautoko i ngā whānau o Te Tai Poutini.