Inspiring stories of mental health and addiction

Participants at Mental health and addictions review hui

Lots of people in Tairāwhiti have shared their views on mental health and addiction over the last six weeks. The review of all Hauora Tairāwhiti funded mental health and addiction services in Tairāwhiti is well underway. Building on the findings of the national review last year we are actively listening to whānau, says Nicola Ehau (Hauora Tairāwhiti Planning, Funding and Population Health Manager). "Hui or workshops are being held across communities. The voices and korero we have listened to are valuable to help us place whānau at the centre of what we are doing and drive the increasingly necessary change."

"People from all parts of our communities have come forward to tell us about their experiences. They are looking for a change. We are committed to continuing to work with our communities to design a better way of delivering this.  Knowing how to access services, being listened to and care that is centred on whānau are themes we are hearing from many people."

Hauora Tairāwhiti Chief Executive Jim Green has also attended hui. "We are reviewing how to get the best possible outcomes for Tairāwhiti people. What we are learning in the workshops, and the findings from the government review last year is shaping what, how, who and where services need to be available in the future. The result will be a model of care for all funded mental health and addiction services in Tairāwhiti."

"It was inspiring to be in a room with so many people committed and knowledgeable about addictions and mental health. Seeing and hearing their input into what will be one of the most important developments in Tairāwhiti health services in many years was encouraging. This is a project that will leave a lasting legacy for Tairāwhiti whānau"

It is not too late for people have their say. Hui will be held on the Coast next week on Friday 22 November.

  • 9am – 11am HICKS BAY Te Puna Manaaki a  Ruataupare, 141 Onepoto Road. 
  • 1.30pm - 3.30pm TIKITIKI Kaiwaka Marae  15 Poroporo Road. 

If you can't attend the hui on the Coast give your feedback online. Any information you share is anonymous, and feel free to share the link with friends and whānau.

Feedback closes at the end of November. All the feedback and stories will be collated, analysed and used to build a new model of care for people affected by mental health and addictions.

"The new model of care aims to develop one system of many parts to provide high-quality, whānau-centred care to achieve an equitable outcome," says Ms Ehau.  It will inform the funder - Hauora Tairāwhiti - of the types of services needed for Te Tairāwhiti population and how services need to work with whānau/families, and each other."

"Once we have developed the model, it will provide the high-level approach to designing any new mental health and addiction facilities to be built or redesigned with the up to $20 million of grant money announced by the government in June," says Ms Ehau. 

Who has been involved in the review to date?

  • 113 from Gisborne community, who attended hui beginning of October
  • 20 school students from Lytton and Gisborne Boys High Schools
  • Oranga Tamariki teams
  • 62 Youth – attending a summit in Uawa
  • 50 people providing mental health and addictions services
  • 7 Pacific Peoples at a Fono
  • Kaumatua hosted at the Tūranga Health monthly hui
  • Police – managers and front line staff
  • General practitioners
  • Workplaces. Tūranga Health has distributed questionnaires at companies they work with.
  • Tūranga communities. Tūranga Health is working with its rural communities.
  • Gisborne Community online.

Last modified:

In this section

News & Publications