Te Hao Maru Health and Social Services, owned and operated by Te Runanga O Moeraki, opened a medical clinic in Coquet St in Oamaru last year and has now added the mobile health clinic to its roster.
Chief executive Mani Malloy-Sharplin said the mobile clinics, which would rotate location, would allow more community access.
‘‘Our aim is to provide a service for anyone that may not be able to access a GP [and] also anyone that wants to access culturally sensitive kaupapa Maori services and receive a more holistic approach to health.
‘‘The mobile clinic will also move to different locations, so fortnightly on a Wednesday and Thursday in Duntroon, Moeraki, Karitane and Oamaru.
‘‘We have a nurse practitioner, a traditional Maori healing practitioner and a health coach support and navigator in the Waitaki.’’
Kaiuruku Hauora (registered nurse) Marianne Te Tau said the vision was to lead from ‘‘a wellbeing space as opposed to an illness space’’.
‘‘It’s open doors, it’s a kaupapa that is free and accessible to all.’’
Rokoa Maori practitioner Lavinia Reihana-Moemate said ‘‘one of our toa [leaders], it was her dream many years ago for us to be doing this, and that this would happen, so I acknowledge her.’’
Mr Malloy-Sharplin said the clinic would ‘‘park up at the rugby club or the shearing sheds and provide healthcare to people who might not have access otherwise or may not be able to get to our clinic’’.
Clinic services include mahi wairua, rongoa treatments (holistic healing), traditional medicine and massage. The full team includes GPs, counsellors and whanau services.
