Bringing whānau together

Whaea’s story is a wonderful example of our mahi in action. Our Pouhono service supports this 78-year-old kaumātua to access a range of health services, improve her living circumstances, manage her weekly living expenses and reconnect with whānau.

When talking to one of our Pouhono kaimahi, Whaea shared memories of her younger self and a close, loving relationship with her brother, who she had not seen for ten years. As she remembered her brother, she wept with feelings loneliness and sadness at a relationship lost.

Forward five weeks and, as this photo shows, Whaea is sitting with her brother in front of his whare. Together they reminisce and laugh, there are tears and they hold hands. Her brother scolds her for not looking after herself and Whaea leans in closer to him, happy to be together again after all this time.

The kaimahi described the incredibly moving experience. “It’s like they had never been apart. They must have had a close bond; they probably went through a lot together.”
An important part of our mahi here at Te Whare is the care of vulnerable kaumātua, many of whom face considerable hardships and are disconnected from whānau, hapu and iwi. Our Pouhono kaimahi navigate ways to reconnect kaumātua to safe whānau and support their spiritual, material and personal needs – so they can age with dignity, aroha and respect.