Tairāwhiti iwi have banded together this week to pack and distribute thousands of hygiene and sanitation packs for older people and those with chronic health conditions.
It’s one of the many initiatives that Tairāwhiti iwi: Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, and Ngāti Porou, are rolling out as part of their joint COVID-19 Response Plan.
Pakeke and kaumatua, people with chronic health conditions, and whānau with high needs have been prioritised to receive the pack which includes gloves, scourers, tissues, wipes, cloths, detergent soap, and toilet paper.
Athena Emmerson-Kapa from Te Rūnanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa says this is an all of iwi response and one of the “health, help, heating and harm-free initiatives” the collective has taken on board.
Dozens of essential service workers connected to iwi health and social service providers were rostered in teams of 8-10 people, to assemble the hygiene packs at the central logistics and distribution centre established at Te Tini o Porou, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Porou headquarters in Gisborne.
“We’ve been working in shifts so as to keep everyone safe. Once the packs are made up they are distributed by accredited Whānau Ora providers to whānau within their own communities.”
“They’ve been delivered by staff who have Level 4 essential service credentials to ensure there are no extra vehicles on the road.”
Ms Emmerson-Kapa says the packs are being delivered from Wairoa to Matawai and north to Potaka.
“We’re pulling together for our communities during this challenging time,” adds Ms Emmerson-Kapa.
More pack contents are expected in the district later this week and when that happens Ms Emmerson-Kapa says the united team of workers will begin packing again.
The pack contents were provided to the Horouta Whānaunga Collective by Te Pou Matakana, the North Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, based in Auckland. The Horouta Whānaunga collective comprises of Whānau Ora providers across the East Coast and Wairoa.
Around the country 30,000 packs have been given to 81 Whānau Ora provider collectives to distribute.
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