Te Tiratū

08/03/2026

🌿 Tautoko Taumarunui Hauora Day! 🌿
Whānau came together at Taumarunui Hospital recently to share experiences and connect with a diverse range of health services. Big mihi by our Te Tiratū Whānau Voice team to Atarina, Willow, and Briar for making this day possible. We tautoko all the community teams who came from National Hauora Coalition (NHC), Te Nehenehenui, Ngāti Maniapoto Marae PACT Trust, Asthma Waikato, Awhi Healthy Homes, and Te Puawaitanga counselling💚

👉Read more here: https://tetiratu.co.nz/2026/02/28/whanau-speak-up-about-state-of-health-system-at-taumarunui-hauora-day/

08/03/2026

Kia ora e te whānau

Our team were out and about for the Chiefs vs Moana Pasifika Super Rugby clash on Friday.

We caught up with excited rugby fans who shared tips for maintaining whānau hauora over autumn and their biggest concerns about Māori and Pacific health.

Keep an eye on our socials, we’ll be dropping the content in the coming days.

On Video: All Blacks and Gallagher Chiefs loose forward Wallace Satiti sharing some tautoko!

05/03/2026

🎁 Whānau life jacket giveaway 🌊

A huge mihi to Mark Haimoana, a well-known leader in Māori water safety, swimming and surfing, who has generously donated a lifejacket for one of our whānau 🙌

In this reel, he shares his whakaaro on choosing the right lifejacket for the right activity and staying safe around the wai 🦺🌊

Ngā mihi also to Water Safety New Zealand for the important mahi they do to reduce drownings through education and awareness.

We’ll be gifting this lifejacket to help keep our tamariki and whānau safer around wai this raumati ☀️

To enter, comment below and:

💙 Share a water safety tip for our Waikato coastline or awa

OR

💙 Name an awa that’s significant to you or your favourite safe swimming spot

AND

⤵️ tag a whānau member who needs the reminder 👇

We’ll draw a winner next week and reach out directly. Stay safe, stay afloat.

02/03/2026

📢 Kia ora e te whānau 📢

A quick update on health governance developments you may want to be aware of:

Our Mema Pōari, Dr Mataroria Lyndon, has also been appointed Chair of the Independent Investment Board for Rangitāmiro, one of four new Whānau Ora commissioning agencies.

This signals a maturing phase for Whānau Ora, with strengthened independent oversight, clearer investment discipline and higher expectations around evidence and measurable impact.

With approximately $67 million in commissioning funding and an expanded frontline navigator workforce 🤝, the focus remains on long-term outcomes for whānau.

Read more here:
https://tetiratu.co.nz/2026/02/26/independent-investment-governance-signals-structural-reset-for-whanau-ora/

26/02/2026

Kia ora e te whānau

Some important mahi is happening behind the scenes for Māori health, and we wanted to share it with you in a simple way.

The Hauora Māori Advisory Committee, chaired by Tā Mark Solomon, has set 9 key priorities they’ll be keeping a close eye on across the health system.

Te Tiratū Iwi Māori Partnership Board works alongside the national IMPB collective to advocate directly to this rōpū, ensuring our local voices, lived experiences, and whānau needs are heard at the national table.

Here’s what they’re focusing on:

1. Protecting Māori from communicable diseases at every stage of life

2. Supporting māmā and pēpi with consistent, quality care

3. Preventing long-term illness early for tamariki and rangatahi

4. Strengthening rangatahi mental health and resilience

5. Supporting healthy behaviours and strong protective environments for rangatahi

6. Faster and more effective cancer diagnosis and treatment

7. Better early care for pakeke, especially for diabetes and heart disease

8. Supporting kaumātua to live well with complex health needs

9. Making sure Iwi Māori Partnership Boards are properly supported to serve whānau and hapori

These priorities help shape what gets monitored and improved across the health system so they really matter.

Have a read of the full reports and stay connected with the kaupapa:
🔗 https://tetiratu.co.nz/2025/09/01/hauora-maori-advisory-committee-population-priorities-for-maori-health/

Together, we are prioritising your needs, so the system works for our people.

The Crown-appointed Hauora Māori Advisory Committee, chaired by Tā Mark Solomon, has identified nine priority areas to improve Māori health outcomes. Te Tiratū Iwi Māori Partnership Board and the national IMPB collective independently advocate to the Committee on behalf of whānau.

22/02/2026

🌿 Kia ora e te whānau 🌿

Have you or someone in your whānau experienced a serious injury? Then found the support after leaving hospital difficult?

We know many whānau miss out on rehabilitation or enter services late. What in the system is a barrier and causing harm?

Te ara whakatika | The Path of Making Things Right wants to listen to your lived experience to improve post-acute care, rehabilitation, and follow-up support so it works better for everyone.

This national kaupapa is led by the Trauma National Clinical Network with partners Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, ACC, and Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission.

If you’re keen to share your whakaaro or put your hand up, you can register your interest here 👉 https://www.hqsc.govt.nz/consumer-hub/consumer-health-forum-aotearoa/consumer-opportunities/

Read more about the current open opportunities for consumers to get involved.

18/02/2026

💛 Kia ora e te whānau 💛

Having a stroke doesn’t just affect one person. It impacts whole whānau, hapori, and generations.

For us, the impact is deeper. The historic Waitangi Tribunal 2019 Hauora Report shows stroke mortality is nearly twice as high for Māori as for non-Māori. This reflects inequities in access to prevention, care, and support.

That’s why ‘We All Know Someone’, launched by Stroke Aotearoa New Zealand, matters. It’s about standing together, sharing our stories, and reminding survivors and their whānau they are not alone.

📸 If you would like to take part, you can add your photo or kōrero here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H2RDGCW

17/02/2026

🌿 Kia ora e te whānau 🌿

Thanks for the great response to our 12-month prescriptions position statement.

Without strong equity and safety safeguards, this change risks widening Māori health inequities, increasing under-care, delaying diagnosis, and causing medication-related harm.

We sat down with our CEO | Tumu Whakarae, to discuss why getting this right matters for whānau Māori.

If you're interested, you can watch that kōrero here 🎥👉

14/02/2026

🌿💙 Kia ora e te whānau💙🌿
We have received a pānui from Te Nehenehenui with an update on emergency contacts and evacuation points
Te Kotahitanga Marae and Te Kūiti Pā have opened their doors to whānau who are being evacuated and seeking shelter.
Please contact them directly if you or whānau need shelter at the marae.
The details for Te Kotahitanga Marae are:
➡️Address: 93 Ōtewā Road Ōtorohanga
➡️Contact: Kaea Haerewa 0273225908
The details for Te Kūiti Pā are:
➡️Address: 1 Awakino Road, Te Kūiti 3910
➡️Contact: Shannon Manawaiti 0221295891

⚠️ Kia mataara, kia tūpato koutou ⚠️

COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGES FATALITY DUE TO FLOODING EVENT

Ōtorohanga District Council acknowledges the tragic news that a man has lost his life following last night’s severe flooding event.

Police have confirmed the man died when his vehicle was submerged in flood waters on Kiwi Road off State Highway 39. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.

A local State of Emergency was declared at 12.57am. An Emergency Operations Centre remains active as Council staff and emergency services continue to assess damage across the district.

We urge the community to stay away from flooded areas and slips, and to self-evacuate if you do not feel safe in your home.

If you need somewhere warm and dry, St David’s Church (9 Ranfurly Street) and Te Kotahitanga Marae (93 Ōtewā Road) are open.

If you need assistance, please call our 24/7 contact centre on 0800 734 000.

Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available, please go to our website to read the full media release - https://www.otodc.govt.nz/latest-news/article/601/council-acknowledges-fatality-due-to-flooding-event

13/02/2026

🫶🏽Kia haumaru te noho e te whānau🫶🏽
Mayor Rodney Dow at 1am this morning declared a State of Emergency for Ōtorohanga - it will remain in effect for seven days.
➡️Dial 111 if you are in immediate danger.
➡️Stay home. Download the MetService App for instant alerts.
➡️Put safety first. Don’t take any chances. Act quickly if you see rising water.
➡️Never try to walk, swim, drive through or play in flood water.
➡️Report any flooding/storm damage/road blockages to 0800 734 000

Here are some handy websites/pages to follow:
▶️https://www.waikatocivildefence.govt.nz/ Civil Defence Waikato
▶️https://www.otodc.govt.nz/ Ōtorohanga District Council

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED FOR ŌTOROHANGA DISTRICT

Ōtorohanga District Mayor Rodney Dow has declared a State of Emergency for the Ōtorohanga District.

The State of Emergency declaration takes effect immediately (signed at 12:57am on Saturday 14 February 2026 and expires in seven days.

Mayor Dow says the district has experienced widespread flooding and heavy rain, with reports of flooding, slips and inundation.
“The situation in Ōtorohanga is serious, and with nightfall upon us, it’s important we are prepared and have the right controls in place to provide help and support, including required evacuations if needed.”

An Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was stood up in the Council Chambers after the initial event with Council’s Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) team working on gathering intel and providing support.

Further help from ŌDC’s CDEM partners at Western Waikato may also be called in to provide support. Mayor Dow and fellow elected members have also been closely monitoring the situation.

The declaration was signed following formal advice from CDEM Duty Controller Dave Simes.

A declaration enables emergency services and response agencies to draw on resources, and enact additional powers, to assist those affected.

Infrastructure and emergency services partners have been working throughout the evening to assess and manage the impacts of the weather event, including water infrastructure and roading. For safety reasons, residents are being urged to stay at home and not venture out.

“I urge you to stay safe and do not venture out into floodwater – it is not safe,” says Mayor Dow.

If you need help, please contact our call centre on 0800 734 000.
If it is an emergency, phone 111 immediately!!

Our Civil Defence communications officer will keep our community updated via Council’s page and website.

11/02/2026

💧Kia ora e te whānau 💧

Wai is part of our everyday lives, and keeping our tamariki safe around it takes all of us.

Here’s some gentle reminders that make a real difference:
• Constant, active adult supervision at all times
• Don’t rely on older tamariki to watch younger ones in, on or around wai pērā i te puna kaukau, awa, moana rānei
• Phones away. Eyes and attention on tamariki

It only takes a moment for things to change. Stay present, stay connected, and help our tamariki stay safe this raumati.

Ngā mihi to Water Safety New Zealand and Kia Mānu Kia Ora for supporting whānau to keep tamariki safe around water.
🔗 https://www.watersafetynz.org/staying-safe/keeping-little-ones-safe
🔗 https://kmko.nz/

Kia Mānu Kia Ora
Stay afloat. Stay alive. 💙🌊

08/02/2026

We loved kōrero with whānau on and off the water, hearing your stories, tips, and experiences.

Long days in the sun are part of the kaupapa, a huge mihi to everyone who shared their sun safety tips to keep our whānau well in the hot sun ☀️🧴