Maori hauora clinic in new home

Uruuruwhenua Hauora co-founders Francie Driver and Peter Ellison unwound a flax ribbon during the...
Uruuruwhenua Hauora co-founders Francie Driver and Peter Ellison unwound a flax ribbon during the opening on Monday. PHOTOS: ELLA JENKINS
The new Uruuruwhenua Hauora building at Tarbert St, Alexandra.
The new Uruuruwhenua Hauora building at Tarbert St, Alexandra.
The well-stocked gym which those who are enrolled with Uruuruwhenua can use for free.
The well-stocked gym which those who are enrolled with Uruuruwhenua can use for free.
The music room in the new Uruuruwhenua Hauora building.
The music room in the new Uruuruwhenua Hauora building.
Work had been done to make the former clinic more welcoming to visitors.
Work had been done to make the former clinic more welcoming to visitors.

Emotions were high as an Alexandra Maori health provider celebrated a significant milestone in the organisation’s 20-year history.

Uruuruwhenua Hauora celebrated moving into their new Tarbert St building in a ceremony on Monday.

The new premises, which had been home to a medical centre, opened for clients on January 13.

It was the fourth and largest building they had operated out of since they were founded 20 years ago.

The upbeat ceremony started outside, where Uruuruwhenua Hauora board member Louise McKenzie, (Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara, Ngāti Waiki Mahurangi) welcomed guests to the new building.

"For us, our new premises, nau mai, haere mai," she said.

That was then followed by a karakia and waiata before Uruuruwhenua Hauora co-founder and board member Francie Diver (Kai Tahu) and co-founder and WellSouth director of Maori health and equity Peter Ellison (Kai Tahu) took part in a symbolic ribbon cutting, where they unwound a flax ribbon at the entrance.

Guests were then invited inside to hear speeches, tour the new facility and enjoy some kai.

Mrs McKenzie said it had taken Uruuruwhenua Hauora many years to get such a wonderful building.

"To get to this point, where we can spread out is special."

The new building was so nice compared to their old address and it was an upgrade in space and parking, she said.

Unlike a traditional medical centre, the new Uruuruwhenua building feels more like a community centre.

The new building contains space for the main hub — the entrance area where whanau are encouraged to gather, a music room with a piano, a well stocked gym, a counselling room, a mirimiri (Maori massage) room and staff offices.

The space also had a children’s vaccination room which doubled as the hairdressing room.

The goodwill of the community was also something she was grateful for.

"Very proud, very emotional, it took 20 years to get to this point," Mrs McKenzie said.

Uruuruwhenua Hauora pou tangata Nicole Fleming (Kai Tahu) said the new building had a lot more space compared to what they had.

Work had been done to redecorate and make the new building feel like a home to whanau, as opposed to the clinical space it once was, Ms Fleming said.

Mrs Diver said the idea behind the creation of Uruuruwhenua Hauora 20 years ago came from a realisation that rural Maori were missing out.

Mr Ellison had proposed a plan and Mrs Driver said they went with it.

"To have gone from little to this was amazing," she said.

Mrs Diver said that it was quite emotional to see Uruuruwhenua Hauora grow to where it is now.

Mr Ellison said he was happy to be there, he described the opening and the progress Uruuruwhenua Hauora had made as fantastic.

"One staff member to 18 is amazing," he said.

Uruuruwhenua Hauora does not at present offer GP services, and despite their Maori focus and approach to healthcare, they welcome referrals for all ethnicities.

ella.jenkins@alliedpress.co.nz