Partners in the region
Whã Matariki is about working for change
Matariki partners met to consider how they work together to support wha¯nau under the Matariki Wha¯nau Wellbeing Group (“Pou One”).
Matariki Pou One Sponsor, Shayne Walker (Chair, HBDHB) challenged the group “to ensure that every wha¯nau is thriving through focusing our collective efforts towards those things that matter the most for our region”.
Central and local government, private sector, iwi and non government organisations have committed under the regional economic and social growth strategy Matariki, to ensure that
Hawke’s Bay is a thriving place that everyone can participate in and benefit from. Populations in Hawke’s Bay experience inequity in education, health, justice and employment.
Equity is about fairness — an important aspect is social inclusion as it creates an environment where people have the resources and opportunities to participate in learning, working, social and cultural life, and having a voice in their community.
Supporting people experiencing these challenges and barriers to participate in society, both socially and economically, will allow them to have a better quality of life.
The Health Equity Report (2018) for Hawke’s Bay demonstrated that inequities have been worsening in some areas.
We need to better use our economic successes to create social inclusion into our initiatives to improve the overall wellbeing of wha¯nau and create intergenerational change. Our population growth has also been faster than previously estimated.
To cater for our population increases we need to ensure we have healthy homes and opportunities for all wha¯nau to contribute to, and benefit from, our region.
Pou One lead Chrissie Hape (Chief Executive, NKII) noted that by focusing on O¯hanga (our economy) and Tikanga (the way we do things) together we can achieve better Oranga — that is health and wellbeing.
It is exciting that this genuine partnership approach has committed to develop and action a regional programme of work.
Some planning has started and will support projects in Wairoa, Napier and Hastings.
Planning is being supported by responding to what wha¯nau and communities share as their issues and aspirations, supporting local led solutions and having a ‘big picture’ view to ensure wha¯nau have the greatest level of support to realise their potential.
Partners are excited to work together and look to a point in the future where they know their efforts have made a measurable impact on enabling improved wha¯nau wellbeing in Hawkes Bay. They will next meet in April.
We need to better use our economic successes to create social inclusion into our initiatives to improve the overall wellbeing of wha¯nau and create intergenerational
change.