At Raetihi Pah, local hapū members are leading a four-year Ministry of Health funded Innovation project; Te Puawai o Te Ahi Kaa (TPoTAK). This project is in partnership with Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority and Whakauae Research (as evaluation support). TPoTAK seeks to enhance the wellbeing of whānau who have remained living locally by mapping the historical wellbeing of whānau as well as identifying the current health and wellbeing status of members. To date, the team has completed a health needs assessment and developed a whānau-informed programme of action. The aim of this is to increase health literacy and positively change health behaviours to enhance whānau well-being. Now in the final year of the project, the team is working on implementation of these strategies with the ultimate aspiration of strengthening Ahi Kaa and keeping the paepae strong.
Whakauae is committed to working collaboratively with project kaimahi and the wider community and seeks to build the evaluation skills of kaimahi throughout the project. Examples of this have included:
In December 2015, evaluators attended a whānau day so they could share initial data analysis and key findings with the community. Results show that the project is providing members with a vehicle to better understand the health issues within their whānau and the community. This greater understanding has resulted in a plan of action whereby health information is being shared, services are better integrated with the community and community.
members are upskilled in issues such as chronic conditions self-management and caring for vulnerable children. During the whānau day, participants were encouraged to take part in sessions where ‘muralling’ techniques were used to make sense of data. Whānau enjoyed the interactive whānau-friendly sessions and are keen to utilise some of these in their workplace. The day provided an opportunity for the evaluators to meet face to face with the wider whānau and other community groups.
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