Social app saving lives

A former Auckland police officer has developed a life-saving social services app.

After 12 years in the police force Akerei Maresala-Thomson resigned in March to work as the general manager of The Village Collective.

He’s also been working part time with a team of developers to release the MYRIVR app, which gives users access to more than 6800 providers from emergency helplines, education needs, government agencies, youth services, Maori and ethnic services and more.

Maresala-Thomson said the app had already connected seven people with social service providers, which stopped them from committing suicide.

Director, Matt Jull said the app was a tool to help all New Zealanders whether they were in a crisis, looking for a job or had just moved into a community.

‘‘I would like to see it on every phone on New Zealand, it’s not just for people in crisis but for people at any given time who will need to access some service,’’ he said.

Referrals are pushed out to the nearest social service providers which meet the user’s needs.

Maresala-Thomson said the app made the process of accessing help simple.

The app has been downloaded 300 times, is listed in the top 50 business apps and is gaining overseas interest, Maresala-Thomson said.