Te Taura Ora o Waiariki - Te Arawa IMPB

15/06/2026

Big news for our rohe! Rotorua has been confirmed as one of five regions across Aotearoa that will host clinical placements for the new University of Waikato Graduate School of Medicine - and Te Taura Ora o Waiariki is right at the heart of it.

We're proud to be part of Te Arawa Māngai Nui Ūpoko Tūtakitaki - the Te Arawa health collective selected to establish Rotorua's Community Clinical Learning Centre. This mahi is about more than medical training. It's about growing a health workforce that reflects our communities.

From 2029, student doctors will train right here in our rohe - in GP and community placements, kaupapa Māori health services, mental health, urgent care, and more.
As our Tumu Whakarae Hinemoa Awatere says, "We need doctors who understand our people, our communities, and our aspirations. This is about fixing entrenched inequities and building a workforce that delivers better outcomes for whānau Māori, while remaining grounded in the communities they serve."

Read more below!

Rotorua and the Western Bay of Plenty will host clinical placements from 2029.

14/06/2026

Today marks the start of Men’s Health Week. While a lot of messaging will be around our physical health, this is a good and timely reminder that no one should ever feel ashamed or afraid to reach out for support with their mental health challenges in their time of need as well.

Hauora is about balance, taking care of our mind is just as vital as looking after our body.

This week, here’s a wero (challenge):

✅ Check in on a mate: Ask them how they're really doing.

✅ Book that appointment: If you or someone you know has been putting off seeing your hauora provider, make the appointment together.

✅ Hold space: Whether that be for a kōrero, a cup of tea, or a walk. Be there for your friends and family.

Let's check in on our brothers, fathers, sons, and mates this week. A simple kōrero can make all the difference.

For local support: https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/community-health-and-social-services/community-health/geneva-wellbeing-te-manawa-taki-midland/?region=im%3Af05d4dec-a0b6-49a6-ad81-cd45ca241cb3

11/06/2026

Whānau Voice Showcase: Meet our Grant Recipients! 🌟

Tēnā tātou e te whānau.

Throughout the month of June, we are excited to showcase the incredible kaupapa selected for our Whānau Voice Grants Round One.

These initiatives were chosen for their commitment to elevating the voices and stories of our whānau, ensuring that our experiences lead the way in shaping a better health and wellbeing system for Aotearoa.

First up, we are proud to feature:

🧡 Ko Wai Mātou Taonga Storytelling by Chris Malloy.

This kaupapa focuses on Whānau Hauora, specifically exploring mental health and addiction through a lived experience lens.

Based within the Te Arawa rohe, this project uses a unique, taonga-based storytelling approach where whānau bring photos, taonga, or deeply meaningful items to help guide their kōrero about their personal supports, challenges, and long-term aspirations for wellbeing.

Through planning hui, dedicated storytelling sessions, and a community sharing event in Rotorua, the project captures these authentic journeys via short video interviews and group discussions.

"It felt like I was hanging on the ledge for a long time, holding on to a lot of fear. But once I let go, I realised the fall wasn't far at all. Releasing and accepting is what brought me back to where I am today. I am grounded."

By documenting these real experiences, the insights gathered will highlight the true enablers and barriers to hauora, helping to inform culturally grounded health service design that genuinely supports our community.

"You know, it doesn't take much to put a seed into the ground, water it, keep coming back, keep nurturing it… Come harvest season, I get to bear the fruits and share them out. Just sharing my experiences with others."

These are the voices that matter. This is why we do this mahi. 🌱

10/06/2026

What is an IMPB? 💭

We often get asked about the mahi we do here at Te Taura Ora o Waiariki.

As an Iwi Māori Partnership Board (IMPB), our purpose is to serve as the strategic voice for our people. Working closely with our community to advance aspirations to meet the health needs of our people.

Our mahi:

🧡 Elevating Whānau Voice: We gather the real experiences, stories, and needs of our hapori and ensure they are heard and acted upon at the highest levels.

🧡 Assessing Local Services: We look closely at the health services operating within our rohe to ensure they are high-performing, effective, and culturally safe.

🧡 Strategic Partnership: Under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act, we partner directly with health authorities to plan, design, and fund services that reflect Māori aspirations for health and wellbeing.

We are here to ensure that the voices of whānau, hapū, and iwi directly guide the future of healthcare across our rohe.

08/06/2026

Mānawatia a Matariki - About The Stars 🌟

As we prepare to welcome the Māori New Year, we are taking time to look up at the cluster and reflect on the significance of each star. Matariki is made up of nine distinct stars, each has its own unique characteristics that Māori acknowledge and honour.

Swipe through the tiles to meet the stars and see the specific karakia connected to each one. These karakia can be spoken to Matariki in winter just before the sun rises.

Meet the stars:

1. Pōhutukawa
2. Tipuānuku
3. Tipuārangi

Keep an eye out for our page as we continue to journey through the rest of the stars!

*Sourced from Mānawatia a Matariki

04/06/2026

World Environment Day 🌏

“Toitū te marae a Tāne, Toitū te marae a Tangaroa, Toitū te tangata.”
“If the land is well and the sea is well, the people will thrive.”

This World Environment Day, we reflect on this whakataukī and the powerful connection between te taiao and our hauora. The health of the land and the health of people are inseparable.

When our rivers, forests, and whenua are thriving, they provide the physical and spiritual sustenance that keeps our whānau well. Protecting our environment is one of the most foundational ways we can protect our own health and wellbeing.

Today, let’s remember that caring for the taiao is caring for our hauora!

02/06/2026

Last week, Te Arawa Whānau Ora hosted the Haka Educational Tours group - welcoming eighteen students from the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University to learn more about Aotearoa’s health landscape and the importance of whānau-centred approaches to wellbeing.

Te Taura Ora o Waiariki were privileged to present on our role within the health system and share valuable whānau voice insights that help shape our kaupapa and priorities.

The students were particularly interested in understanding the differences between New Zealand’s taxpayer-funded health system and the private insurance-based framework commonly experienced in the United States. Discussions explored the evolution of Te Aka Whai Ora and Te Whatu Ora, alongside the impact of Māori-led approaches to improving Indigenous health outcomes and equity.

It was encouraging to share how community-led, “by Māori, for Māori” initiatives help bridge gaps that clinical models alone often cannot address - particularly when responding to the wider social determinants of health.

Ngā mihi to Haka Educational Tours and the visiting students for your openness, curiosity, and commitment to advancing Indigenous health equity globally.

31/05/2026

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month | The Important Stuff 💙

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month in New Zealand. This is a kaupapa that touches far too many of our whānau, and it’s time to bring it out into the open.
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world. Every year, more than 3,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed, and over 1,200 will lose their lives to the disease.

But here is the most important statistic you need to know: when found early, bowel cancer is more than 90% curable.

What you can do today:

👉🏽 Check your symptoms: The signs aren't always obvious and can be easy to ignore or explain away. Keep a close eye on any changes in your body, knowing what is normal for you makes all the difference.

👉🏽 Do the test: If you are aged 58 to 74, you are eligible for the free National Bowel Screening Programme kit in the mail. It is quick, clean, and you do it privately at home. Don't leave it sitting on the bench, do the test and send it back.

👉🏽 Talk to your whānau: If you have a family history of bowel cancer, or if you are under 58 but noticing changes, don't wait. Talk to your GP or hauora provider right away.

Early detection saves lives. Let's look after ourselves and our loved ones by staying informed: https://bowelcancernz.org.nz/

27/05/2026

As the winter chill sets in, we look to the skies for the return of Matariki. Known around the world as Pleiades, for us, the rising of these stars signals te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year.

Matariki is a time for our hapori to pause and gather. It is a season to:

✨ Matariki Hunga Nui: Remembrance

Honour those who have passed since the stars last rose.

✨ Matariki Ahunga Nui: Celebrating the Present

Gathering together to give thanks for what we have.

✨ Matariki Manako Nui: Looking to the Future

Looking forward to the promise of a new year.

As we move through May, let’s begin to think about what this new cycle means for our hauora and our goals for the year ahead.

25/05/2026

Winter is knocking at our door, whānau. With the chilly season setting in, now is the time to make sure our homes and our people are prepared.

Protecting the ones we love starts with looking ahead. Getting your flu immunisation before the season hits is one way we can keep our whānau strong and our pēpi and kaumātua safe this winter.

To book yours, talk to your usual doctor/hauora Māori or Pacific health provider, visit your local pharmacy, or book online at https://app.bookmyvaccine.health.nz/