Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki has moved into its much larger Whānau Health Centre in Paeroa.
On Monday morning, a dawn blessing led by tohuonga Dr Korohere Ngapo marked the start of the health provider’s increasing accessibility within the Hauraki rohe.
Located at 15 Princes St, the site is the former premises of the Paeroa Medical Centre.
“The great thing for us was that two-and-a-half years ago, the Hauraki whānau Māori had said they wanted more services, and they wanted them [to be] accessible. We responded by having our smaller clinic [on Belmont Rd]; however it was still limited in terms of space and how many whānau we could actually see,” Te Korowai manukura hauora [chief executive] Tammy Dehar said. “Now, we’ve come to a point of recognising Paeroa and its Māori population is growing significantly, and so should the availability of access to relevant care.”
Tammy said the move was a great “stepping stone”, especially with Te Whatu Ora Waikato joining them and providing its manaaki services for mental health, in turn “breaking down access barriers”.
“It’s bringing to fruition our kaupapa of: no matter which door whānau enter through, Te Korowai will treat you as one organisation. This provides more options for whānau of Hauraki, where they can enter through various doors and still be treated with the same care and respect.”
Tammy said Te Korowai, through the Hauraki locality, had an existing relationship with Paeroa Medical Centre. There were further conversations to be had, she said, but the organisation’s focus was less on the “business structure” of providing health services, and more about “the people”.
“If this is what the people of Paeroa, in terms of whānau Māori, are wanting, then that’s what we’re responding to.”
