'Health for Maori Means Embracing Who We Are'

Honoured Hauraki Health Promoter Says Health for Maori Means Embracing Who We Are

Hauraki health promoter Carrie Taipari (Ngati Maru, Ngati Mahuta, Ngati Makirangi) has been named this year’s winner of the Public Health Association’s Tu Rangatira mo te Ora Award for her leadership in being a role model for the rangatahi and whanau in her rohe.

The award is given each year to an individual, whanau, hapu or iwi group who has made a significant contribution to Maori hauora. Past recipients have included the Associate Health Minister Hon Tariana Turia.

In nominating Ms Taipari Sue Milburn said she has given unstintingly of her skill and personal resources and is passionate about tikanga, and whanau health and development.

Carrie works as a health promoter in sexual health, nutrition and physical activity with a focus on rangatahi. She has implemented taonga takaro (traditional Maori games) into the curriculum of both primary and secondary schools in Hauraki, and has achieved NCEA accreditation for the high school units.

In 2013 one local high school asked her to work alongside a group of rangatahi.

“She developed a year-long programme, based on waka ama and tikanga that also gave the students life skills, self-esteem and successes as well as NCEA credits for their efforts,” Ms Milburn said.

Carries says she is amazed, humbled and honoured to receive this award.

“I do things quietly and never expected to be honoured in this way. I'm thankful to all the whanau and rangatahi, and to all those I've had the privilege of working alongside. They're what this award is all about.”

Carrie explains her passion for tikanga by quoting Dr Erima Henare who said that first and foremost we have to embrace what makes us who we are, go back into ourselves, back to our culture in order to be able to look out.

“I have been doing just that for the last three years,” Carrie says

“Since I returned to my ukaipo in Hauraki I have learnt about myself, developing connections with my iwi and my community. I now know more than I ever did before what it means to be Maori, and what intrinsic value embracing tikanga and te ao Maori has for our rangatahi and whanau.

“Through the mahi and the approach taken I have seen what a difference it makes in helping our people make meaningful change to reach a fuller state of ora. Successful health promotion for Maori, incorporates, respects and embraces tikanga and te ao Maori, otherwise it’s just not authentic and it doesn’t work.”

She says hauora is an area that is not isolated and contained by itself, but that it is connected intricately to every facet of life.

“If I do my mahi passionately and zone in on hauora and potentiating ora, the rewards for our whanau are far-reaching. Being passionate about my mahi, about hauora, builds confidence, increases capabilities and aspirations, and builds experiences that reach out and affect so many aspects of the lives of rangatahi and those of their whanau and communities.”

She says that if she had just one message for rangatahi it would be that ora gains are life gains and legacies are left by those who seek to gain and give all they can.

“Seek ora, so that you may live your legacy. Always remember first and foremost – “He Maori koe – ko to ngakau ki nga taonga o o tïpuna hei tikitiki mo to mahunga.”

Carrie received the Tu Rangatira mo te Ora Award this evening at the NZ Population Health Congress Awards Dinner at the Aotea Centre in Auckland.

ENDS

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