Winter Wellness Support from Manaaki Kapiti
Manaaki Kapiti was formed by Atiawa ki Whakarongotai iwi in December 2021, and is an inspiring example of a group of people getting stuck in and doing the mahi that needs to be done to support communities.
We were lucky enough to be introduced to Manaaki Kapiti when they ordered 60 medium staple blankets through the Sustainability Trust Ecoshop in July. Along with the blankets, they also purchased Dimplex heaters, hydgrometers, draught stoppers and window film kits - all of which were used to create Winter Wellness Packs to support kaumatua in their community this winter. And, with our get one, gift one model, their purchase also gifted 60 blankets to children in the Wellington region through the Sustainability Trust Warm Fuzzies program!
Tania Parata (Atiawa ki Whakarongotai), Pou Whakahaere at Manaaki Kapiti, shared insights into their COVID outreach service in the Kapiti region, the challenges preventing access to warmth and how other community groups can learn from their passionate kaimahi.
CommonKind: When did Manaaki Kapiti start and how does it work?
Tania: In December last year, Atiawa ki Whakarongotai iwi embraced the opportunity to provide a mana whenua COVID outreach service to the local community called Manaaki Kapiti.
Manaaki Kapiti services are inspired by the hard work and thinking of Kara Kearney and Cherie Seamark, two wahine toa of Atiawa ki Whakarongotai iwi in Kapiti, who are determined to create opportunities for wellbeing to our whanau, hapu, iwi and our wider community.
Our bespoke services are delivered in partnership with a local Maori health provider, Hora te Pai, to meet health, welfare, social and cultural needs while whanau are isolating. We provide support services across a range of areas, through our:
Kai hub - a service that provides kai and hygiene packs, delivered to households by our kaimanaaki
Kaimanaaki service - a mobile team dedicated to supporting whanau needs while isolating – this includes prescription pickups, oximetre drop offs, click and collect deliveries and more
Call centre - often the first point of contact, this friendly team looks after requests and provides check-in phone calls during isolation periods
Hauora service - a team of clinicians available to assess people’s health and monitor their wellbeing during their isolation period
Tangata whaikaha – Disability Advisor - a specialist service working with tangata whaikaha/disability whanau in our district
Community Connectors - a service available to whanau who are impacted by COVID – supporting whanau to access government entitlements and a wide range of support
Community Vaccinators - a team of medical practitioners available to provide a range of immunisations and COVID vaccinations at community clinics and in people’s homes
CommonKind: What brought about the idea for the wellness packs?
Tania: As an iwi-led service, kaumatua wellbeing is a priority. We wanted to prepare our kaumatua and their whanau for COVID and isolating at home, so we created an outreach project that promotes COVID preparedness and enables our team to check in regularly with our kaumatua. We decided to extend this mahi to encompass other wellness activities including making sure that our kaumatua have what they need for a warm, healthy and dry home.
CommonKind: Who are the wellness packs for and how do they access your support?
Tania: We received some funding for our Winter Wellness project, but not enough for all people in need in our community – so we’ve prioritised our iwi - Maori kaumatua in the first instance.
CommonKind: What are the challenges preventing access to warmth in your community?
Tania: We know that whanau are impacted by rising costs of living, localised housing supply challenges and income disruptions associated with the pandemic and other winter illness – these factors contribute to financial pressures and often push whanau to the limit. For more and more whanau, a weekly choice is made between paying bills, having a roof over their heads, having petrol in their car to get to work or skimping on kai and heating, just to make ends meet.
CommonKind: Looking at your Instagram, the kaimahi at Manaaki Kapiti clearly have so much passion and drive for your mission. How can other community groups learn from you?
Tania: We have amazing, dedicated, and talented kaimahi – we know that our kaimahi are right beside our iwi, in creating conditions for equity and intergenerational wellbeing for whanau in Kapiti.
If I could share one learning with others working in communities, it is this; partnering and collaborating with organisations like the Sustainability Trust is the best way to make wellbeing impacts in local communities.
We agree – there is so much potential for practical support for communities when individuals, enterprises, not-for-profit organisations, government and communities join forces and resources to help communities and the people within them thrive.
Take a look at www.manaakikapiti.org.nz to learn more about what Manaaki Kapiti do and find lots of resources on COVID-19 and the flu and follow them on socials to see more of their important mahi, and the wonderful team that makes it happen – you’ll find them on Instagram and Facebook.
