​Our agency turned 15 years old in September 2015 - what an amazing journey made possible because of the dedication, commitment and daily energy of everyone on the waka over this time. Such talented, inspirational and caring kaimahi - we are a whanau. Our course is set, our focus clear and our mission has never altered - "Connecting Whanau to Resources, Ideas and Energy for Wellbeing and Independence". As we move forward I remember those early years and the people who extended encouragement, expressed confidence, faith and trust in our kaupapa and helped in shaping our core.
Kaumatua - Aunty Sue Sommerville - thank you for the weekly visits Aunty, Whaea Wara Wara Hakopa - thank you for teaching us courage, Aunty Robyn Thompson - thank you for your gentle belief in us and my husband who named the Trust at its inception Roy Te Keiraunui Tawha - thank you for setting us on a quality pathway to always present our professional best - moe mai nga Rangatira - we will not forget your guiding instructions. There have been many other contributors to our growth and development - so to all the stakeholders, thank you sincerely. To the current Board - Chair Mr Greg Fordyce, Taua Jane Davis, Taua Betty Rickus, Taua Lesley Rewi and Taua Sally Wast we thank you for your grace, guidance and wisdom - brilliant leadership. A mihi also to the magnificent management team of Nga Kete who daily bring it with passion, courage and work hard to ensure a robust operational infrastructure that supports, develops and guides best practice and all quality care. On behalf of us all at Nga Kete we say thank you to the many whanau over the years who have engaged with our service, be it for a cuppa and korero or in seeking awhi or in helping to shape the many services we now extend. It is a privilege to walk alongside you as we strive to deliver a quality service provision in a setting of excellence with the values and actions of Aroha ki te Tangata in our hearts. The next 15 years is going to be a blast - come seek us out, nau mai haere mai.
WHANAU ORA - WEAVING WELLNESS.
Tracey Wright-Tawha
CEO

​Police Kaitakawaenga Iwi Liaison Officer Simon Kairau, of Invercargill, will now be based at our office every Tuesday as part of our commitment to Whanau Ora approaches in our work and in strengthening relationships with colleagues. Simon is looking forward to supporting us in integrating into the ethos of Nga Kete's mahi, being accessible to Nga Kete staff, enhancing the already strong relationship between Nga Kete and the NZ Police, providing positive Kaupapa Maori Police engagement with Nga Kete clients and projects, programmes, initiatives and referral monitoring among others. Simon is happy to be here and says it’s good to be around people with similar goals.

​Restorative Justice is alive and well in Southland, Queenstown and Gore! Here at Nga Kete, we’re really pleased with recent legislation changes, which have strengthened and extended the application of general rights for victims and increased the rights of victims of serious offences. The new legislation has meant an influx of restorative justice referrals at Nga Kete. We believe we have a good system in place and we’re meeting our targets in each area (including pre-conference and conferencing).

Specialist Facilitation Services Manager Natasha Barrett.

Angela Barwick and Marcia Campbell.

Our GP service featured in the media this week. Seven months after opening our low-cost GP service we’ve met our first year enrolment target, meaning hundreds of the city’s most at risk residents have access to affordable healthcare. Already more than 1700 patients have enrolled and we’re expecting to have more than 2000 patients on the books by the end of the first 12 months. He Puna Waiora was developed with support from the WellSouth Primary Health Network and the local community. Maori Health Manager Peter Ellison says the low cost has meant accessing primary care services more affordable for some of the most vulnerable people in the region. Nga Kete CEO Tracey Wright-Tawha says: “We have been so busy extending quality low-cost primary health care that I haven’t taken a minute to absorb a dream realized, we are doing this! It’s a privilege to offer a low cost option to our community.”

Our wonderful alcohol and other drugs manager Pikihuia Ruffell and Rangatahi Alcohol and Drug Counsellor Kylie-Jane Phillips spent time in Hamilton recently and, while there, were filmed discussing the new ADOM (Alcohol and Drug Outcome Measure) for the purpose of rolling out some new video resources for training clinicians – why/how we can use the ADOM as a commitment to ongoing service improvement and quality.

​We’re excited to announce Dr Matt Schoenherr will join our GP team on September 14. Dr Schoenherr was trained in the US at Saint Louis University School of Medicine before receiving his specialty in Family Medicine in Wisconsin. Before moving to New Zealand with his wife Erin Fisk, who is the GP at Otautau Medical Centre, Dr Schoenherr worked at a small clinic in Wisconsin focusing on Family Medicine. He is looking forward to getting to know the people of Invercargill and Nga Kete and helping them make the right decisions to keep them happy and healthy.

​We were excited to welcome new staff members to our team this week. Not only have we been joined by Dr Matt Schoenherr, from Wisconsin,and our new GP administrator Jessica McDonald, we have also welcomed our new Mauri Ora Community
Nurse Glenda Rongen. The Mother-of-one started her new position on Monday. The born and bred Southlander comes to us with an extensive background in nursing and health. She has worked for the Southern District Health Board and Health Line among others. The Mauri Ora Community Nursing Service is mobile with a focus on the Western Southland area, but accessible to all Southlanders. Glenda is delighted to be a member of the team. “I’m excited to be here because I’m part of an established, well-respected family.”
Welcome to the team Matt, Glenda and Jessica!

​Nga Kete’s Supported Youth Living House has moved locations. The new environment supports Whanau Ora Navigators to have a greater capacity for more one-on-one time with individuals. The new location has a capacity for six. Nga Kete Chief Executive Tracey Wright-Tawha said the house is based on family values and run as a family dynamic with great ground rules, clear responsibilities and exceptionally good supervision, seven days a week. “The home offers unsupported youth an opportunity to move beyond their current situation, learn how to become self sufficient and move towards independence in a supported way.” The non-contracted service has been essential in supporting improved wellbeing for the 19 young people referred to date, she said. The house has been full of successes, including future hospitality worker 17-year-old Nikita Dobson. Nikita, who entered the house in January, was shy, quiet and timid. But being in the house has taught her independence and eight months on she is a confident and competent young woman. She is thriving in education, physically healthier and her state of wellbeing has improved. She has almost completed NCEA level 2 and a hospitality course. She doesn’t know where she would have been if it wasn’t for the house and describes it as a
life-saver.