Te Tai Tokerau Maori Health Strategic Plan
HE MIHI
GREETINGS
Tena koutou nga morehu o nga mata waka, mai i te ao tawhito. Kei te mihi atu, kei te tangi atu ki nga mate kua mene atu ki te po.
Ratou nga manu tioriori o nga pari karangaranga me nga kaka wahanui o te wao nui a Tane.
E te hunga kua whakawhiti atu ki te Ao Wairua, tena koutou katoa. Kua tangihia, kua mihia, me ki, kua ea te wahanga ki a ratou.
Koutou nga mahuetanga iho i a ratou ma, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
Ko wai matou? Ko Te Roopu Kai Hapai o Te Tai Tokerau. E mahi tahi ana matou me nga Kaiwhakarite Hauora Maori.
Ko te tino putake me hanga he kaupapa, ki te Manaaki te hapai i o tatau hapu, iwi, Maori. Ki te whakatu ki a ratou te hauora tinana, wairua, hinengaro, aroha whaiora ranei.
He nui nga ahuatanga hauora, ara ko nga piki me nga heke e rere ana i waenganui te iwi Maori o Te Tai Tokerau.
Ko te pae tawhiti, whaaia kia tata.
Ko te pae tata, whakamaua kia tina! Tina!
HE WHAKARAPOPOTOTANGA
FOREWORD
Kua tawhiti ke to haerenga mai, kia kore e haere tonu.
He tino nui rawa ou mahi, kia kore e mahi nui tonu.
You have come too far, not to go further.
You have done too much, not to do more.
Ta Himi Henare
Ngati Hine
1989
After a long and at times arduous journey, it is with the greatest of pleasure that I pen this foreword for the Te Tai Tokerau Maori Health Strategic Plan in the first warm blossoming of Spring 2008. It is a time for the springing forth of new life, and so it seems particularly apt that the germination of this Plan is now coming to full fruition.
I want to especially acknowledge my health sector colleagues from throughout te Tai Tokerau, who, over the past year, have met, talked, debated, work-shopped, reflected, revised, reframed and finally signed off this Plan. This Strategy captures the depth and breadth of our collective experience and knowledge, ensuring it will have far-reaching impact for Maori health and wellbeing.
We have collectively committed to implementing this Plan in a manner that directly confronts the gross Maori health inequalities and disparities in Te Tai Tokerau. We recognise the magnitude of this challenge and understand that we need to be working coherently across health, social services, education,
employment and local government sectors and with all others for whom our vision of “Kotahitanga o Te Tai Tokerau hei hapai i te oranga o te iwi Maori” finds resonance.
Sir James Henare’s pepeha is one that I quote often and one which never ever loses its potency and relevance in being repeated. I am always deeply moved by the power of these words because I believe that the “you” adjures us all to go further, to do more and to be the best that we can be. We have come too far not to go further, we have done too much not to do more.
Tihei Mauri Ora!
Lynette Stewart
Chief Executive Officer, Te Tai Tokerau MAPO
On behalf of Te Tai Tokerau Maori Health Strategic Alliance and Northland PHOs.
