The old Te Rau Print building in Peel Street is about to get a new lease of life. It is the new venue for the Waharoa Service (previously Te Kuwatawata). The stunning building has been renamed He Rau Aroha and will be the place where people in distress can get help.
The Waharoa Service has an open door policy. Anyone can walk in to have a look at the stunning artwork on the walls, all created by local artists. People can also ask for help for themselves or whānau or be referred from their GP or another service.
The Waharoa team is led by matauranga Māori (customary knowledge) and includes counsellors, clinicians and artists. All are part of a multidisciplinary team working with whānau and connecting to other clinical and non-clinical services.
Waharoa is a gateway to help, including secondary (hospital) health services. Taking the first step to getting help can be difficult, says Chief Executive Hine Moeke-Murray. The light, bright space adorned with art is a welcoming place for all to come to. The service has outgrown its premises at 73 Peel Street. He Rau Aroha will have 11 rooms for whānau to meet in. The previous premises had four.
He Rau Aroha will be a place for community, Hine adds. Wellbeing workshops, therapeutic art sessions and Moko Papa (the grounding of moko) will be held here. We invite all local artists to contact us about exhibiting their art in the building. We want to celebrate the creativity of Tairāwhiti and the therapeutic nature of art.
Waharoa is a partnership between mental health and addictions peer support and advocacy organisation Te Kupenga Net Trust and Hauora Tairāwhiti.
He Rau Aroha opens fully clothed in art and taonga on Friday 21 October with a Mihi Whakatau at 7am, and the launch of local documentary Te Keeti at 9am.
Te Keeti documents the experience of 27 local elders living through epidemic.
It explores how they managed during COVID-19 lockdowns and how they applied learnings from previous epidemics. They share a wealth of knowledge we can all learn from including interviews with Maaka Tibble, Tangiwai Ria, and Kuini Moehau Tuhura. The documentary has been organised by Charlotte and Tahia Gibson and sponsored by Te Rau Ora (strengthening Māori health and wellbeing)
What: Opening of He Rau Aroha
Where: 23 Peel Street (opposite the Library), Gisborne
When: This Friday 23 October 2020
Time: 7am for Mihi Whakatau, 8am Breakfast, 9am launch of local documentary Te Keeti