In 2021, the Ministry of Health undertook a procurement process which invited proposals for new Māori primary mental health and addiction services. The following 5 Māori providers came together as a collaborative, (Te Waka Whaiora Trust, Te Paepae Arahi Trust, Maraeroa Marae Health Clinic and Te Hauora Runanga o Wairarapa) Successfully secured 12 FTE.
As a collective these providers developed Whakawhiti te Ra. The key features of Whakawhiti te ra is improving wellbeing for family/whānau to address needs within the context of the whānau from a Māori indigious world view.
Our Kaupapa Māori model has a strong prevention and intervention capability focus, bringing community and Kaupapa Māori provider expertise into the mix along with access to a range of social connections with community and government resources, cultural, social and health support networks, primary care and secondary services as and when they are needed.
The model is deliberate in Te Ao Māori providing protective factors of resilience and connection to support Tangata and their whānau. to build positive identity and connection over time to provide better foundations for self-management of distress and its associated contributors.
Expanding Kaupapa Māori Primary Mental Health and Addiction programme/s Nga Kete Aronui Service forms part of Te Whatu Ora - National Commissioning programme. The Service is being funded to expand the access to and choice of kaupapa Māori primary mental health and addiction services implemented from 2021. In March 2023, Te Whatu Ora - National Commissioning agreed to increase the level of funding to include an additional 5.5 Clinical FTE, 7.0 Non-Clinical FTE and 1.5 Kaupapa Māori, Cultural Support Worker FTE, total now funded by Te Whatu Ora from 12.0 FTE to 26.0 FTE. Te Whatu Ora - National Commissioning also agreed to extend the Contract term for an additional three years to 30 June 2026.