NZ Herald, Rotorua Daily Post
Whānau Ora thanked for ‘hard mahi’ during the Covid pandemic
Minister for Whānau Ora Peeni Henare launched the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency’s second Covid-19 report on Tuesday. Article and Photo – Megan Wilson
The “hard mahi” of Whānau Ora during the Covid-19 response has been acknowledged in Rotorua, as it celebrated vaccinating 20 per cent of the national population.However, there is still work to do before Covid was “really behind us,” the Associate Health Minister says. Yesterday was the final day of a three-day Whānau Ora conference at Te Puia. It started with a karakia followed by Whānau Ora Minister Peeni Henare launching Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency’s second Covid-19 report. Henare thanked everyone for their “hard mahi” during the pandemic.
“Over the past three years … it has been a war for the hearts and minds of our people.
“It’s also been a war to prove to others that Whānau Ora is not just a kaupapa but that Whānau Ora equals success for our people and … for our country.” But he said Covid was in the rearview mirror of “far too many”. Speaking to the Rotorua Daily Post afterwards, Henare, who is also the Associate Health Minister (Māori Health), said there was some way to go before Covid was “really behind us”.
“It’s been such challenging two-and-a-half years that we’re yet to fully realise the impact of Covid moving forward. “We support mental wellbeing – that’s through access and choice and we know the impact on whānau. It’s starting to come out in our tamariki and their mental wellbeing.” Henare said the Covid report looked at what was achieved during the Covid response and what could be done differently in the future. “We don’t hope another pandemic comes to this country but … we feel far more prepared than we were before [Covid].”
Read full article at Rotorua Daily Post