Marae health centre dream realised

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 675, 25 February 1997, Page 1

Marae health centre dream realised

A15-year old dream was realised last Wednesday when a new health facility was officially opened at the Maungarongo Marae in Ohakune. About 60 people attended the somewhat less formai than usual official opening of the Ngati Rangi Community Health Centre in the Maungarongo Kokiri building and heard expressions of welcome and thanks as well as words of tribute from a number of speakers, in Maori and English. Local kaumatua Matiu Mareikura said it "was great to see so many here" explaining that the Centre had come about because "we took the initiate to do something for ourselves". Health Committee chairperson Rita Kaiwhare speaking only in English but offering to speak in Dutch - explained jthe purpose of the new centre. She said the aim of the centre was to emphasise the importance of health through education and, for that reason, the new facility would target children and the elderly and Serve as an assessment and referral centre only. "We are not a clinic as we will not be seeking to take over from existing medical centres", she said, Our aim is to educate our young people inareas of preventive health, the dangers of smoking, cancer prevention, diabetes, home care, asthma and glue ear. Also to be addressed will be the problems of domestic violence and anger management. In thanking so many for coming to the opening she said it was her idea to request a less formai invitation and welcome to the marae than the traditional powhiri as she felt that some senior citizens would feel more comfortable with the shorter informal welcome and morning tea. Among other speakers was kaumatua Richie Akapita who congratulated the health committee which had "struggled for 15 years" to get the centre built. Because of our isolation he said the facility would be available to everyone and not only to those associated with the marae. Another speaker was Mark Gray from the Rangitikei district. He said he was a representative on the Central RHA Board in Wellington and it was his responsibility on that board to identify Maori who were not getting the attention they needed. Robert Pickery, speaking as the only male on the health committee, named the other members of the committee as Jane Dixon (secretary), Bonny Sue (treasurer), Maxine Ormby (as well as Rita Kaiwhare and himself) who are all on the management committee. Ordinary committee members were Vera Wilson, Kay Oliver, Darnella Hawira and Sue Noble. The two kaumatua are Richie Akapita and Matiu Mareikura. Julia Rangonui from Wanganui (who is one of the consultants for Ngati Rangi health) said that "Joan (the late Joan Akapita) and I were tiying to set up a facility like this Turn to Page 2

From page 1 in 1982. Here it is now but the work is only just beginning". Two other visitors - Pat McOnie of the RDC Safer Community Council in T aumarunui and Gail Simpson from the Wanganui Cancer Society - also spoke briefly offering help to the health centre. The new Health Centre received a grant of $35,000 from Central RHA to set up and all work to date by the committee has be'en entirely voluhtary