MEDIA RELEASE – 28 February 2013
Minister Turia To Discuss Health And Social Issue On West Coast
West Coast health workers and those working in social services and community NGOs will have a chance to engage directly
with the Minister for Whanau Ora on health and social issues when Hon Tariana Turia visits Hokitika and Greymouth on
Tuesday 5 March 2013.
Minister Turia (who is also Associate Minister of Health) will attend a powhiri at Arahura Marae in the morning, where
she will talk to an audience of local iwi, health professionals, social service providers and representatives of the
Maori community about her vision for Whanau Ora, disability issues and smoke-free initiatives.
At Greymouth she’ll lunch with a small number of invited guests from the community before speaking to a larger invited
audience similar to that of the morning.
The West Coast District Health Board is hosting the visit which was originally scheduled for October last year but had
to be postponed.
Programme Director Michael Frampton says it’s a great opportunity for the Minister to share her vision for whanau ora
and smoke free Aotearoa on the West Coast, but also hear back from those at the coalface about the unique issues
Coasters face.
“We don’t often get an opportunity to discuss these issues with a Minister on site, so I know that the health and social
services communities are looking forward to this visit.”
ENDS