Te Whatu Ora general practitioners, nurse practitioners, kaiāwhina, psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health workers have helicoptered out to at least 12 rural communities since the cyclone providing “culturally-led, clinically-partnered outreach”.
Te Whatu Ora Pou Whirinaki Duayne Davies, who led the Isolated Rural Communities āwhina response, says seeing the need through a cultural lens has been critical to the mission’s success.
“Some of the areas heavily populated by Māori took time to open up and engage with clinical staff due to trauma, and they feel more comfortable speaking with whānau Maori,” Mr Davies says. “By ‘cultural’ we are also referring to farming culture, Pasifika, our RSE workers and others – we have to create an environment where they feel safe.”
Records show 200 people in these rural communities have been seen in the aftermath of the cyclone for medical acute or sub-acute reasons such as skin infections, gastroenteritis, migraines, anxiety, coughs and wound assessments – and then there’s mental health on top of that.
Mr Davies says ensuring all clinical and psychosocial teams understood the cultural narrative was key to ensuring staff had a clear picture of the community’s healthcare needs.
Te Whatu Ora Pou Whirinaki Hinengaro Anaru Hodges says cultural safety is achieved using the basic principles of Te Ao Māori such as whakawhanaungatanga, mana-enhancing practices such as greeting someone in their language or offering kai, and manaakitanga.
This approach to outreach was inspired by Māori psychiatrist and author Mason Durie.
“He stated that the synergistic partnering of clinical psychology and cultural intervention can augment recovery from stress or illness, that dwarfs the scope of either acting alone,” Mr Hodges says.
The response teams are seeing a lot of low-level anxiety fuelled by loss of home, land, jobs and income, he says.
“Essentially, their mana has been stripped so we are helping rebuild that and meeting them where they are.”
Pacific Clinical Lead Noreen Tully, part of the response, says the outreach has been particularly successful for Pasifika.
“Many of our Pacific peoples either don’t have a GP, and if they do, it’s navigating a difficult system that often results in care not being accessed in a timely manner,” Mrs Tully says.
“This is why a Pacific clinical and welfare outreach is so successful.”
Te Whatu Ora has worked throughout the cyclone response in partnership with Te Aka Whai Ora, and alongside New Zealand Defence Force, Civil Defence, NZ Police, Fire Emergency NZ, St John, Ministry of Primary Industries, Ministry of Social Development, Red Cross and Iwī liaisons.
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