Whānau Āwhina Plunket

Some of our Northland team celebrated Matariki with a special Whānau Day at Te Hana Te Ao Marama Marae in the Te Hana township near the northern boundary of Auckland.     The event was led by Te Hā Oranga – an organisation providing support to whānau – to bring services and the local community together to celebrate the Māori New Year.   We have a special connection to this marae through Plunket kaiāwhina Whaea Cherrie Christy-Hita and her husband Matua Ben who have been part of establishing the Te Hana Te Ao Marama Māori Cultural Centre.   “The highlight for me personally was being taught a song reciting the names of the nine stars in the Matariki cluster by one of my new little friends at the colouring-in table," says Plunket Community Services cordinator Ema Kelly.   Caption (left-to-right): Seleisa Kolone (Plunket nurse), @Louise Haywood (Te Hā Oranga), Cherrie Christy- Hita (Plunket kaiāwhina), Julia Verberne (Plunket nurse) and Ann Neha (Te Hā Oranga).

Meet our Board member, Tarati Blair-Hunt.   Tarati (Ngāti Whātua) works in organisations that serve the most vulnerable. She is currently the Equity Partner for Quality, Safety and Risk at Te Toka Tumai Auckland (formerly Auckland District Health Board) and leads the Māori Health Provider team He Ara Whiria.   Inspired by a great line of māreikura and matriarchs focused on uplifting the wellbeing of whānau and iwi, Tarati’s vision for tamariki in Aotearoa today is that they are heard and seen and receive timely health information and support to live long and healthy lives.   You can learn more about Tarati here: https://lnkd.in/g9Pt7snt

Today, Louise Eunson our GM of Performance, Risk and Governance and Melanie Laban, our National Community Services Manager, were delighted to attend the World Refugee Day breakfast at Parliament hosted by the Hon. Minister Casey Costello. They heard stories of hope and belonging from refugees who have been welcomed to Aotearoa New Zealand to start a new life and met with community volunteers who help to settle refugees into homes and their local communities. We are proud of the mahi we do to support refugees to connect with other māmā through our playgroups, as well as our role in connecting whānau to other relevant support services in their communities.

It's National Volunteer Week and we want to give a #BigShoutOut to our wonderful volunteers across the country who dedicate their time to supporting whānau in your community. We simply could not do what we do without our volunteers, so thank you from all us here at Whānau Āwhina Plunket 💜

It was very special to reconnect with Dr Hope Tupara and Dr Mere Skerrett from Te Ropu Wahine Maori Toko I te Ora Māori Women’s Welfare League Inc in Wellington yesterday, exploring opportunities to work together supporting our whānau and tamariki. From left to right: Dr Mere Skerrett (National Vice President), Dr Hope Tupara (National President), Dame Fran Wilde (Whānau Āwhina Plunket Board Chair), Dr Hera Black- Te Rangi (Pou Whakarae - Chief Advisor) and Fiona Kingsford (Chief Executive)

A big congratulations to our Star Partner BestStart who have been voted New Zealand’s Most Trusted Childcare Brand for 2024. We're incredibly proud of their amazing mahi and dedication to helping tamariki thrive 💙💜

Kua wātea mai he tūranga motūhake mo tētahi Kaihāpai Māori. Nā, mehemea e ngākaunui ana koe i ngā āhuatanga whakahīkaka i te mauri ora o tō hapori, tēnā whakapā mai. https://lnkd.in/gBJXk-jX

Today is #pinkshirtdaynz, where Aotearoa comes together to take a stand against bullying. Members of our Executive Leadership Team are wearing their Pink Shirt Day t-shirts to show our commitment to stamping out bullying and encouraging everyone to be an #EverydayUpstander. Whānau Āwhina Plunket is committed to creating a safe space where everyone's feels that their voice is valued and respected. Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora! Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying! From left to right: Louise Eunson (GM Performance, Risk and Governance), Fiona Kingsford (Chief Executive), Denise Shera (GM Service Delivery), Matt Kenny (GM Finance Technology and Commercial), and Dr Hera Black- Te Rangi (Pou Whakarae - Chief Advisor)

Today we celebrate our 117th birthday! We began in the small coastal town of Karitāne near Dunedin (Ōtepoti). Karitāne was the home of Mere Harper and Ria Tikini, both of Kāi Tahu and Kāti Huirapa descent. They were highly respected midwives and healers who often worked closely with their friend and neighbour, health reformer Dr Frederic Truby King, to care for the ill in their community.   Today, we support whānau across all of Aotearoa New Zealand. We're proud to be able to support māmā, pēpi, and whānau in those essential first years of life.   Our biggest thanks go out to everyone who has trusted us to provide care to our most precious treasures, our tamariki, over these 117 years   Image credit: Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, 'Mere Harper and Ria Tikini', 2021, oil on canvas, commissioned by Whānau Āwhina Plunket.