Te Ururoa Flavell

Opening of Convenient Health Clinic; Rotorua Community Link Te Ururoa Flavell; MP for Waiariki Tuesday 26 January 2010

Three months ago a pivotal political statement was made at Waitangi; a statement made by Professor Innes Asher to the Paediatric Society of New Zealand.

In her statement Professor Asher talked about the Crown's obligations to the Treaty of Waitangi to act when disparities between Maori and other New Zealanders occur.

She described the grim reality that 22% of children live in poverty.

And she told us why our outcomes for child and youth health are among the worst in the OECD.

This is what she had to say and I quote.

"Much of the preventable disease in our children is due to the triple jeopardy of poverty, poor housing and difficulty in accessing primary health care including immunisations, combined with fragmentation of health services, under-funding and the legacy of discrimination against Maori".

Today is about addressing that reality.

I am really pleased to welcome this new initiative for Korowai Aroha as part of your commitment in the pathway towards whanau ora.

This new initiative, the 'Convenient Health Clinic' is about facing the triple jeopardy; addressing the impact of poverty; of insufficient and inadequate housing; of poor healthcare.

This new pilot health clinic starts with good health as the basic premise of transformation. It operates from the basis that wellness is not achieved by treatments and prescriptions alone. The prescription we are promoting is one of collaboration and co-operation.

The clinic wraps around whanau the support of government and non-government organisations. In that sense, the location for the centre couldn't be better with Work and Income and Child, Youth and Family all working together.

Last year the Ministry of Health released a report, Te Toi Hauora-Nui which basically described the gold standard for innovative approaches towards improving Maori health.

In that report it said that the point of difference between Maori health providers and other providers was the commitment of Maori health providers to achieve whanau ora - each determined to empower their patients and whanau to take greater control of their health and wellbeing.

There were some other distinctive features, including - Inspired by kaupapa Maori - Holistic approach which focused on health and non-health factors - Voluntary contribution - Leadership driving the vision and the service - Multidisciplinary teams; - Community orientated - And nurse led.

These types of features are to be seen in what Korowai Aroha is also sharing with us all today.

I want to really congratulate Lakes DHB for the leap of faith that you have made in Korowai Aroha.

Congratulations to Ngaroma Grant and the whnau for your commitment to hauora, and moving to make this new initiative, the Convenient Health Clinic, work in the context of Rotorua and our greater community.

To you, Deena Mear and your team, all of the best in your mahi.

There's the practical and pragmatic - assessment of minor wounds and injuries; blood sugar checks; immunisations; free health checks.

But importantly, there's also the principle - the drive for hauora supported by healthy living advice and support; health education; the importance of empowering whanau to focus on their own health.

The word is that nurse-led clinics are the future for health, and so I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing the difference that can be made into linking whanau into contact with other community organisations and GP and wellchild services.

It's not about replacing visits to the doctor - it's about providing the first point of contact for our whanau to access other services as they need.

And it is good to know that this new service will be linked electronically with local GPs and electronic messaging will ensure everyone is informed and fully engaged with all information necessary.

But what's best of all - the clinic is free; no appointment is required; and the vision is to be "approachable, helpful and knowledgeable". If you were to add in "good looking" then you could be talking about my electorate office just down the road.

I'm really pleased to be able to congratulate everyone involved in the Convenient Health Clinic and I wish you all the best for a great future ahead.

So you know, after I leave here I head to Tauranga to honour a commitment I made a few months ago in Whakatane. There, an auction was held to raise funds for child cancer and a hospice facility. I was thinking of what I could contribute so naturally gave over a Maori Party flag which fetched of course, a huge sum.

I also thought I would offer certain services myself so offered myself for a day. Well, as it happens a lady from Tauranga won me for a measly sum of $500.00 I might add!!!

Part of the deal was that I talk with her about some educational initiatives, cook her a boil up (and I have cut off all of the fatty meat) and then do some gardening. So initiatives in health are happening at all levels!!!

Second, I note the uniforms of Korowai Aroha. From time to time, we MPs get T-Shirts maybe and can become walking bill boards for organisations. If you move to track suits, I would be happy to assist you Korowai Aroha in promotion of your work!!!

Thank you all again for the invitation, it is an exciting initiative which I hope will set the scene for it to be rolled out to other communities. Tena tatou katoa.