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38
NGÄ ROHE
TE WAIPOUNAMU
KAITOKO WHÄNAU WORKERS RECOGNISED
FOR EARTHQUAKE MAHI
The efforts of special Kaitoko Whänau
kaimahi engaged to assist with Christchurch
earthquake relief work was recognised
recently with the Greater Canterbury Social
Sector Awards.
He Oranga Pounamu and Te Runanga O Ngä
Maata Waka Inc received the Award for
Leadership following the Earthquake.
The Award acknowledges organisations
that helped families directly affected by the
earthquakes to navigate their way through
the many issues they had to deal with.
The Greater Canterbury Community
Response Forum took the initiative to
organise the awards. Terry Donaldson, Forum
TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | NGAHURU / AUTUMN 2012
spokesperson, says the way the community
sector responded to events following the
earthquakes deserves to be acknowledged.
“The Canterbury community sector has
shown extraordinary leadership,” he says.
“Their responsiveness to the needs of families
and communities following the earthquakes
and the innovative ways they worked
together, and with government, meant that
the impact on families was lessened.”
The awards are a way of showing appreciation
and admiration for the work they did.
The Minister of Mäori Affairs Dr Pita
Sharples echoed the praise for the dedicated
Kaitoko Whänau kaimahi.
“It is a fitting honour for those who worked
so hard and indeed those who were at the
coal face during our nation’s time of crisis.”
During the period following the 22 February
quake last year, Te Puni Kökiri put some
resource into He Oranga Pounamu, to
establish 15 Kaitoko Whänau positions to
reach out and support whänau to access the
assistance they needed at the time.
“The Kaitoko Whänau programme, which
has been up and running since 2009, has
placed many advocates in communities right
across Aotearoa, and I am constantly hearing
stories of the wonderful work they are doing
with whänau.”