Conch News - Pacific Health Voices

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Tokelau Nurses & Health Workers Association New Zealand Inc. (TNHANZ) President: Mr Kupa Kupa Malo ni from Tokelau Nurses & Health Workers Association New Zealand. Congratulations to the Pacific Health Professional Organisations (PHPO) for believing that we could share a journey together as Pacific health professionals, for the benefit and advancement of our individual organization members. For this first newsletter we wish to have a focus on our logo because it symbolizes our identity and our purpose. This is a very interesting time for us and the establishment of the Tokelau Nurses & Health Workers Association New Zealand Inc. (TNHANZ), is a story that resonates with our Tokelau pioneer families that first arrived onto the shores of Aotearoa New Zealand since the 1950’s. Our own families have shared with us that their aspirations were dedicated to ensuring a better future for us and, TNHANZ is an example of realizing this. We began as a small group of Tokelau nurses that met regularly since 2006 for peer support yet, our current existence and future role within the Tokelau community is being shaped by significant health events affecting our community which includes addressing suicide. We have responded to our communities needs in the best way possible involving consultations, workshops, making health information available, and sourcing funds to carry out our work. And while these are examples of activities within the community, we have channeled our efforts at various other levels. This has included formalizing our group through the Charities Commission in 2008, participating in the development of the Pacific Nurses Section NZNO, undertaking recruitment drives across the country to grow our small association, and more recently participating in the establishment of PHPO. Our journey thus far has been challenging with milestones achieved as per our strategic plan and, we have faced some difficulties especially with key foundation members leaving with their families to go overseas reducing both our valued human resource and, an already small membership. However, our logo has been an enduring part of our existence which constantly reminds us of our humble beginnings. It also helps us to reflect on the reasons which motivated us in the first place to explore new opportunities for growth. An important part of our development was preserving our cultural and traditional values and reflecting this through a logo. We wanted a concept that identified our Tokelau heritage, is well connected to the work we do and, clearly indicates our own aspirations. The revelation came in the form of an ancient Tokelau proverb ` Palepale ia taumua o vaka ki te malama o te tauhunu’. Our elders explained that the tauhunu tree has medicinal uses. Within the context of our group though this relates to the tautai (master fisherman) lying low underneath the tauhunu tree for strategic cover. From this vantage point they are able to coordinate and provide direction using hand signals to other fisherman out in their vaka (or in the water), patiently watching and following to see where the school of fish will move to in order to catch them. Page 14
We are privileged to use this proverb and to become those tautai in the health sector, to create strategic vantage points that will enable us to provide support to our communities where this is required. We adopted this part of the proverb `Te Malama O Te Tauhunu’ which, together with TNHANZ have become our legal names. The colours used in our logo also have special meaning and are connected to colours that have become affiliated to each atoll and, over time these have become a tradition. The colour blue represents Atafu, green for Nukunonu, and red for Fakaofo. This complete logo reinforces the unity of the atolls which make up Tokelau, as well as acknowledging the unique differences between each atoll. This is reflected in our membership. Te Malama O Te Tauhunu is our identity, a Tokelau name to remind us of our obligations to our chosen profession and to our communities. We hope to share some exciting stories in the next newsletters of who we are as individuals and the activities we have undertaken with our communities. We also acknowledge the leadership role taken by Pacific Medical Association within the PHPO. For now though we wish you all well as we come closer to the end of another year. Fakafetai lahi lele ma manuia lava ki tatou uma I tona aloha. Tokelau Nurses and Health Workers Association’s Upcoming Events • Free Gout Workshop • Free Alcohol and Drug Awareness Workshop Date: 15 November 2012 Date: 22 November 2012 Time: 6.00pm - 7.30pm Time: 5.30pm - 7.00pm Where: Pacific Business Trust Building Where: Pacific Business Trust Building 733 Great South Road 733 Great South Road • PHPO Advisory Committee • PHPO Christmas Duo Strategic Planning Day Date: 14 December 2012 Date: 14 December 2012 Time: 3.30pm - 5.30pm Time: 9.00am - 11.30am Where: Pacific Business Trust Building Where: Pacific Business Trust Building 733 Great South Road 733 Great South Road Kupa Kupa President/Chairperson Te Malama O Te Tauhunu Page 15
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