Speech : Hui Whakapiripiri

 

Whenever I think of the concept of a hui Whakapiripiri, that waiata floats into my head

 

 

Whakapiripiri mai. Whakatata mai.

Kia kotahi ai tatau katoa aue taukuri e

 

This hui whakapiripiri is the calling for people to stand close, to come together, so that we can embrace the spirit of kotahitanga and move forwards to a better future.

 

But the concept of whakapiripiri is also one that resonates with the association to our tupuna whare. The meeting house is often referred to as Tane whakapiripiri – the trees of Tane bound together.

 

The House brings together all the elements of the Taiao – the enduring strength of the forest; the intricate beauty of the woven adornments; the resilience of the stone implements all bound together in the natural construction of the House.

 

But it is not just a physical representation.

 

Our tupuna whare also bring together our atua, our Matua, bound to all the uri who descend after them. And within the shelter of the whare, the people are brought together; they are kept safe; secure; and strong.

 

 

Hui whakapiripiri then, is a magical metaphor to lead us into this annual hui for Maori health researchers, academics, policy makers, health providers, community groups, and all of us, carrying the aspirations and the legacies of our ancestors.

 

Let us come together, into Te Ao Marama, to share knowledge and strengthen our connections.

 

 

The theme for this year’s hui expresses this deep desire to connect – through the concept of kanohi ki te kanohi.

 

I sat the other day in a hui where a range of so called “offline” approaches were proposed – the use of Skype; teleconference calling; virtual internet chat groups; and the like. No matter how technologically advanced it may seem, video-conferencing will never compete in my mind, to the value of kanohi ki te kanohi – the intimate connections we make in our face to face korero.

 

In this hui, the theme of kanohi ki te kanohi is interwoven through four strands:

 

Þ Whakaminenga: the power of networking between the Maori health sector and research developments;

 

Þ Whakawhanaunga: building connections for those who are new to Maori health research; improving our communication;

 

Þ Whakawhitiwhiti korero: analysing innovative ideas and ways of working;

 

Þ Whaimatauranga: seeking out new information, new knowledge connections, new linkages.

 

So this is what we are here for…..but the big question is why?

 

Why bother to come together when at the touch of a keyboard, in the space of a nano-second; all imaginable knowledge can be within our reach.

 

It is because of our commitment to whanau ora.

 

It is because we care for our communities; for whanau, hapu and iwi – and we want to do things better for them.

 

Doing things better means we strive to be innovative; we are hungry to learn about interventions that work; we want to make the connections that will make us stronger, and our work more sustainable.

 

This Hui then, is a perfect forum to foster collaborations that will promote and strengthen the wellbeing of whanau.

 

There are ‘breakout sessions’ which will promote brand new ideas.

 

There are going to be presentations in which exciting new thinking is shared and the spark of knowledge ignited.

 

We will have panel sessions which will show it is possible to be unified in our diversity.

 

 

 

And I know we will all be looking forward to the presentation from Yassine Fall, to know that the issues she will bring from her work in Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Arab world and Europe will also resonate with the priorities we face; not the least being the persistent and complex problems for our women and girls living in poverty.

 

In the spirit of the theme of this Hui Whakapiripiri then, I too, want to share two particular reports which I believe will play a vital part in helping to improve health outcomes for whanau, hapu and iwi.

 

The first report is, in my view, required reading for all health providers in this land. The wonderful Peter Jansen led this work, and was supported by the Health Research Council, the Ministry of Health and ACC.

 

The report is entitled He Ritenga Whakaaro: Maori Experiences of Health Services - and as I say it should be a best-seller.

 

Some 615 rangatahi, pakeke, kaumatua, tane and wahine, including nga hunga haua, took part in the survey for the research, with another 86 Maori taking party in hui.

 

And so I want to mihi to them – and to their whanau, hapu and iwi – for so willingly participating in the research in order to inform all of us.

 

There are many stories in this research that will no doubt reflect many of the stories in your own experience. Listen to these comments

 

1. “Doctors frown upon (bringing in the whanau)….they frown upon the fact that we’ve got the whole whanau here”.

 

2. “Our people are so frightened of going into doctors and so frightened of going into the hospital, they are frightened they won’t come out”.

 

3. “They (health services) got to be more transparent, more open, more giving. At the moment, they’re like this locked up, you can’t get anything. We’re standing here like this, please, please, please, begging”.

 

It is absolutely clear that we need to improve communication from health professionals to whanau - as well as encouraging more Maori participation in the health and disability workforce.

 

As well as the quality of services; the costs of accessing healthcare come across as a real barrier for many of the participants in this survey. Follow on costs like prescriptions can be a barrier, as well as the non-treatment costs including time off work, childcare and getting value for money of the service provided.

 

The second research report I would like to release, is the Future of Rongoa Maori: Wellbeing and Sustainability report.

 

This report is a strong resource for anyone interested in really understanding how rongoa Maori contributes to indigenous wellbeing.

 

The buzz word – sustainability – is given vivid meaning in this research report. Sustainability is not only about securing funding and maintaining delivery of services. Sustainability is also about the more fundamental transmission of knowledge; and the investment that we make in enabling a new generation of healers to succeed.

 

Sustainability is intimately linked to whanau ora – and in that, the commitment to sustain rongoa Maori as a traditional healing practice that fits contemporary times, is seen as having the potential to really advance Maori wellbeing.

 

And so I return again to the goal of whanau ora, and the practice of coming close together, Whakapiripiri mai Whakatata mai, to achieve our vision of whanau, hapu, iwi and Maori communities living a life that is healthier, as well as being culturally and socially enriched.

 

Research like these two reports – and like the rich programme of research that comprises the hui agenda – is vital in continuing the growth of Maori health knowledge.

 

I am delighted to be able to be with a group of passionate; energetic; research advocates who I am fully confident will be able to deliver our vision.

 

We must keep strong by staying close together; by valuing our connections; and knowing when we can co-operate and collaborate for the ultimate goal of whanau ora.

 

I wish you all a wonderful Hui Whakapiripiri 2009.