What We Do:

Kaumātua Ukelele Group

Each Thursday we hold a roopu for Kaumātua to come together, sing waiata, play the ukelele, kōrero, laugh, and share a kai. This provides cultural connection, combats loneliness through social connection and means that these often vulnerable elders are checked on. We also provide them with kai parcels to take home each fortnight, hot meals and/or easy reheat meals if they are unwell or unable to cook, transport to and from appointments, advocacy, and other supports when it is needed.

Low-cost GP and nurse clinic on site

We are excited to be opening a satellite clinic in partnership with Dunedin Community Health. During an event that we hosted over the winter we identified the need in the community for a low-cost GP service that was set in a “non-clinical” space. Without any funding we have converted a beautiful multi-purpose space. This space will be used by our GP and nurse, but also by a cultural counsellor/supervisor, a Honohono practitioner, free visiting clinicians such as dietitians and pharmacists, we are hoping to secure a community podiatrist to also share this space.

Mirimiri

We offer free mirimiri to our kaumātua and to the community to help restore their tinana and wairua.

Navigation and Kaiāwhina

Our kaimahi work with whaiora and their whānau to help them in many areas of their life. This can include, kai parcels, cultural connection, housing, violence, employment, education, confidence, whakapapa, financial support, and any other area that you might think of. As each person is individual their needs are specific only to them. This means that our kaimahi must maintain vast networks of organisations and individuals to provide the myriad of services required.

Rangatahi and Takatapui

Rangatahi and Takatapui Rangatahi have been highlighted as an area lacking support in our rohe. We have listened to that need and the specific needs of these groups.
Takatapui shared that they do not feel safe going to a “normal” gym, so we are 4 weeks away from opening a takatapui boxing gym in our whare. This will be accompanied by access to our navigation team and a peer support group.
Rangatahi will also have their own boxing classes and peer group. We are also rolling out a four-term programme with each term having a different activity, boxing, traditional carving, mau rākau, and kaimoana gathering.

Wahine

We also identified that a large number of women do not feel safe or comfortable in a gym environment. We listened and responded to this need and have rolled out a Wahine Boxing group. Despite being four weeks from opening, we are already booked out.

Immunisation event:

As an organisation, we have traditionally kept a low profile. Until June and July 2024 where we recognised a need for flu vaccines to be rolled out to the most vulnerable in our community. We provided flu and Covid vaccines to anyone medically safe to receive one at no charge from a marquee in The Oval every Saturday and Sunday for two months. The response was remarkable. Despite a very small budget, we achieved a reach that showed up on the national radar, but more importantly, we played a part in keeping our community well.

Who We Work With:
Due to the varied nature of our mahi we work with a vast range of people and organisations such as:

• Te Hau Ora
• Able Minds
• Te Putahitanga
• Salvation Army
• Emerge
• Department of Corrections
• Te Whatu Ora
• Te Oranga Tonu Tanga
• MSD
• Oranga Tamariki
• Te Rau Ora
• Healing Aotearoa
• Tribal Nations
• Stopping Violence Dunedin
• A3K
• Kokiri
• Health New Zealand Southern
• Te Whatu Ora/Te Aka Whai Ora

We actively seek relationships that will help meet a need in our community.

What Are We Doing Next:

2025 sees a change from our traditional focus and a move more towards Rangatahi.

We are currently rolling out the installation of a free community boxing facility that will offer exclusive classes for wahine (with onsite childcare), rangatahi and takatapui. This will be unique to our rohe. This will open in early March 2025.

We have also built a multi-purpose, whānau friendly space that will be used by a low-cost GP and nurse clinic, Honohono practitioner, counsellor, and cultural supervisor, visiting community specialists such as dietitians and pharmacists, and hopefully a new community podiatrist.

There is also the roll-out of a rangatahi cultural programme and peer support as well as a takatapui rangatahi group. This is also unique to our rohe.

We are also working on rolling out a programme to support rangatahi and tamariki with FASD and their carers.

In addition, we will continue to provide all the tautoko and connection that we currently do.