The third Hikoi Te Hauora Addiction Recovery Camp has been held in the beautiful Blackmount Valley at Te Koawa Turoa O Takitimu.

The popular camp aimed to maintain and sustain recovery from alcohol and drug addiction was held at the beginning of September, with participants rating it 10/10.

NKMP staff were joined by seven participants on the week-long post-recovery camp as well as a Moana House staff member who stayed for the week to provide extra support.

The camp, which was first held in September last year, was developed by Nga Kete’s Addiction Services team and supports exercise, self-expression and wellbeing.

Addictions Manager and camp organizer Pikihuia Ruffell said the camp-goers enjoyed physical activities and tasks including daily fitness, tramping, waka ama, and environmental awareness.

Highlights of the camp included the waka ama, creating Tukutuku panels, and a 10km walk on the Kepler Track.

Tukutuku panels are a modern take on a traditional Maori art work using raffia paper and peg board. They were an amazing way to wind down after some physically challenging days, she said.

The panels will be donated to various organisations at a later date.

All of the participants said they would strongly recommend the camp and described it as well facilitated, and held in a great venue with fun activities.

Some said they developed life-long friends and others said the camp was life-changing.

One of the participants said he had made lifelong friends, and one young man had even become like a son during the week.

Opening up together as a group had been special and inspirational. “Sometimes when you’re on that boat you think you’re the only one in there.”

He enjoyed the walk, the waka, the laughs, singing and the morning fitness.

“You leave the camp feeling so positive. The whole thing was just inspirational. I’ll carry bits and pieces from the camp on for the rest of my life.”

Another of the camp’s participants said although she was initially apprehensive, she thoroughly enjoyed the camp.

“I was very scared and worried about going because I’m transgender and I didn’t know what the others would think, but it showed me that there are open minded people out there who aren’t going to judge me for being who I am. The camp gave me the boost I needed to just carry on.”

The next camp will be held early next year. If you or someone you know may be interested give us a call on (03) 214 5260. 

The annual Te Whare Tu, Te Whare Ora will be held on Sunday 17 September 2017 at the Invercargill Working Men's Club.

This year's theme is Manaaki Tangata, a call to action to strengthen a strong cultural identity in the prevention of suicide. 
 
Last year a representative of each participating kapa or group signed a community accord, which asked that we collectively participate in a community information network as a proactive step to keeping our whanau safe from suicide.

Te Whare Tu, Te Whare Ora 2017 will introduce new opportunities for participating groups and build on the aspirations of the community accord. 

This year Te Whare Tu, Te Whare Ora will also be supporting the launch of a locally produced poetry book Ties That Bind Us which many of our kaumatua and whanau have contributed poetry and short stories to – Mauri ora whanau.

Key contact: Leoma Tawaroa, phone (03) 214 5260

Southland enrolled nurse Dee Curwood enjoys “being able to be me” in her role as Nga Kete’s Mauri Ora Community Mobile Nurse, a professional enrolled nurse.

The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-three has a passion for Maori Health and says making her patients feel comfortable is her top priority, and bringing banter, good humour and positivity to the role is a must, she says.

We’re in the beautiful Aparima for Dee’s fortnightly clinic together with student nurse Yvette Cleaver. At Diosma House on the town’s main road we are ready for the first caller to pop in.

It’s free, and anyone is welcome to call in, Dee says.

In fact, that’s what’s so unique about the Mauri Ora Community Nursing Mobile service. It’s for everyone at no charge and no appointment necessary, she says. The drop-in clinics are held in small rural communities across Southland offering cardio vascular risk assessments, blood pressure checks, health and wellness plans, linkage to other agencies, and more.

Her warm approach has regulars coming back time after time.

Just ask Oraka local Lynley McKay, who pops in regularly for a checkup with Dee.

She says it’s relaxed, calm, and more convenient than visiting her GP “and I find it really easy to talk to Dee.”

That seems to be a reoccurring theme I hear as we travel over to Betty Davis’ house for a home visit. Betty says she appreciates the visits and that Dee has helped her with her medical alarm and organizing meals on wheels.

The visits have made her comfortable and supported and “I know I can always ring her if I need to.”

Dee enjoys visiting people in their homes because they’re more comfortable in their own environment, and she knows that sometimes just having someone pop in to check they’re OK can brighten their day, even their week, she says.

It’s a new day and a new clinic as we arrive at Glengarry’s Eastside Baptist Church to find a lineup of whanau waiting for their turn with Dee.

Rita Urlich, a regular at the Glengarry clinic, says Dee keeps an eye on her health which has been beneficial to her and with limited mobility saves her trying to find her way to the doctor, she says.

“It’s important to me to have this (clinic). If we lost this service, I would find it really hard.”

The Mauri Ora Community Nursing Service is mobile with a focus on Invercargill and Western Southland areas. The Mauri Ora nurse can:

• Assess and establish a whanau health plan.
• Identify strategies for improved health for the whole whanau.
• Identify and plan for whanau health priorities.
• Support and care of conditions e.g. diabetes, nutrition, and cardiovascular disease.

Care can occur via community clinics in a marae, school, community centre/setting with home visits also an option. We are happy to engage with groups, clubs, senior citizens etc to extend members health checks. The nurse can also link you to other services or to our agency GP practice He Puna Waiora Wellness Centre.

To get in touch with Dee contact (03) 214 5260 or free phone 0800 925 242.

The theme for this year's Gambling Harm Awareness week is about "Whanau Fun".

Here at NKMP we've got a few activities lined up for the week to raise awareness in the community. These include promotion at The Warehouse and Pak n Save, a display at the public library, and an exciting day learning about the bush, with the added treat of a BBQ and refreshments.

Did you know Nga Kete offers a free, professional, friendly and confidential counselling service for gamblers and others affected by problem gambling? 

We offer:

• Multi Venue Self Exclusion
• 1-on-1 individual support 
• Support group
• Whanau/family meetings as part of the healing process
• Mobile service*
• Late night appointments*
  *(conditions apply)

If you are close to someone whose gambling behaviour may be out of control and you would like support, please get in touch with us! Free phone 0800 925 242