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WHÄNAU ORA“Whänau Ora is a long-term strategyto move whänau into the futurethey desire. Change will not happenovernight but with whänau encouragedto see a future different from whatthey have now – if that's their wish –and with an empowering and focusedplan, the support to monitor thatplan and the motivation to remaincommitted to their plan, then they canbe assured of the transformation theywant to achieve.”WhänauChamampions ( from leftto ri ghtt):Piriwiiritua (Piri)Rurawhe,BrendonPPongia,PatiUmaga (centrntre)andCharmeyneTe Nanaa-Williliams.‘Champions’ Promote Whänau OraMerepeka Raukawa-TaitVice-Chair, Te Arawa (Rotorua)Regional Leadership GroupA national ‘Whänau Champions’ networkwill advocate and promote Whänau Ora toall New Zealanders.An initial group of four champions is chargedwith building support and visibility for theinclusive approach, complementing thework of the Governance Group and RegionalLeadership Groups.They are Piriwiritua (Piri) Rurawhe (Rätana);Charmeyne Te Nana-Williams, director ofa home-based rehabilitation and supportservice; former national basketball playerand media personality Brendon Pongia; andPati Umaga – a Pacific disability advocate.The Minister for Whänau Ora, Hon TarianaTuria, says the four individuals are respectedand influential role models with a range ofskills, knowledge and experience.As well as gathering positive whänau storiesof change, the champions will stimulatediscussion, build greater understanding andencourage whänau engagement.“It is now critical to accelerate the gains forwhänau and to give effect to the WhänauOra outcome goals,” says Mrs Turia.“This includes increasing the understandingof and participation in Whänau Ora bywhänau, iwi, public, private, voluntaryservices and organisations as well asgovernment agencies – and the championswill play a vital role in this new focus.”Piri says whänau are empowered to dreamof a better life and a better future – and thechampion’s role will help clear a pathway forthis to occur.“Whänau Ora is not a programme ofdeliverables determined by a contract, it is akaupapa determined by whänau. Haere mai ete whänau, rapuhia te oranga o te tïnana, ote wairua o te whänau hoki.”Charmeyne sees the champion’s role as anextension of their work supporting familieswith complex disabilities.“Our challenge is to work alongsideorganisations, community groups andbusinesses to imbed the Whänau Oraphilosophy into their culture so that itbecomes a way of being – then help them toapply that philosophy.”Minister for Whänau Ora, Hon Tariana Turia.26TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | KÖANGA / SPRING 2012