Media Release
Healing Our Spirit Worldwide
Te Rau Matatini Pou Ahorangi Chief Executive Officer - Marama Parore
Thursday 24 September 2015 12.30pm
Preparations underway for Aotearoa New Zealand to host international indigenous health conference – The Gathering
Te Rau Matatini is preparing to host more than 1,500 people from around the world for a five day indigenous health and
well-being conference in November.
Healing Our Spirit Worldwide - The Seventh Gathering will take place at Claudelands, in Hamilton from 15 – 19 November.
It is being hosted by Te Rau Matatini who has formed strategic relationships with tangata whenua Waikato-Tainui. The
Gathering patron is Te Arikinui Kīngi Tūheitia Paki.
The Healing Our Spirit Worldwide movement began in Canada in the 1980s to address chemical abuse and dependence among
indigenous people. The first Gathering was in Edmonton in 1992 and subsequent events have taken place every four years.
Te Rau Matatini Chief Executive, Marama Parore, said the Gathering will act as a knowledge exchange with a focus on
indigenous futures and their communities.
“The powerful programme we have in place features speakers who are leaders in indigenous health.
“We look forward to hosting them and celebrating indigenous success and cultures from all around the world,” Marama
said.
The Gathering is supported by the International Indigenous Council.
The Council’s Director for Aotearoa, Barry Bublitz, said the Gathering will put New Zealand on the world stage.
“Attendees will experience Māori culture at its fullest.
“They will also gain knowledge and solutions they can take back to their communities and whānau.
“I continue to be amazed at the transformational change the movement provides for many indigenous communities and I’m
sure this Gathering will be no different,” Barry said.
The theme for The Seventh Gathering is Mauri Ora which means life force. Mauri Ora is about the health and wellbeing of
indigenous communities flourishing in positive directions.
The conference will open with a Pōwhiri at Tūrangawaeware Marae on Sunday 15 November. The event will also feature a
Festival Village which will be open to the public.
For more details and the programme please visit hosw.com.
About Te Rau Matatini
Operating since 2002, Te Rau Matatini is a National Māori health and disability workforce development organisation.
Nationally navigated locally led, Te Rau Matatini provides a strategic focus for Māori workforce training, education and
capability building solutions for the advancement of indigenous health and wellbeing of Māori communities.
Te Rau Matatini coordinate a range of national programmes that contribute to health, Māori mental health, primary health
and public health workforce priorities.
These programmes aim to increase responsiveness to Māori health needs, expand the Māori workforce, extend training
opportunities, enhance career pathways and advancement, promote rewarding career opportunities for Māori in health and
mental health, and support Māori health leadership development.
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