26 H U M A N R I G H T S COMMISSION | A FAIR GO FOR ALL? Case study 2: An evaluation of the Whänau Hauora Village was Whänau Hauora Village, Te Matatini published in April 2011. It presents feedback from The Whänau Hauora Village is a unique approach to project was organised and carried out, conclusions and addressing inequitable health outcomes, with a focus recommendations. It reports that 2,500 of the 50,000 specifically on Mäori health.119 Designed to provide whänau whänau at Te Matatini visited the Whänau Hauora Village. with greater access to primary healthcare access, the Of those: Whänau Hauora Village acknowledges the existence of structural discrimination by differential access and treatment for Mäori patients. The Whänau Hauora Village aims to take health out of a European health framework and into a Mäori health framework, thus “bringing the door of health” to whänau and communities. The Village model is based on Professor Mason Durie’s holistic model of wellbeing – Te Whare Tapa Whä – and the four pillars of health: whänau (family health), tinana (physical health), hinengaro (mental whänau who visited the tent, information about how the • 303 men had heart checks. 145 of the 303 had moderate to very high risk of a heart attack within the next five years. Followups with those men were completed after Te Matatini. • 500 women had diabetes checks and reported they were pleased with the service. • 20 women had cervical smears, including some in health) and wairua (spiritual health).120 their middle to late years who had not had one before. Set up for the first time in 2011, the Whänau Hauora Village completed. brought health services into a Mäori cultural setting. Te Matatini o te Rä, the national kapa haka festival in Gisborne, was selected as an ideal first venue. Te Matatini attracts thousands of people, mainly Mäori, from throughout New All referrals that were necessary have since been • 200 contacts were made with whänau with young children and babies. • One family were diagnosed with an acute skin infection, Zealand for a five-day cultural festival. In 2011, 50,000 and treated on-site by a multi-disciplinary team people attended. including a Plunket nurse, pharmacist and doctor.121 At the Whänau Hauora Village, 50 staff from national and Part of the foundational philosophy of the Whänau Hauora regional organisations worked together within a large Village was Kotahitanga (unity), and providing care to tent to provide health information, advice and direct address key Mäori health issues. The focus was therefore services. The initiative was co-ordinated by PHARMAC, on whänau and not the individual service providers: “it’s the government agency responsible for purchasing about whänau services and not our brand”. For that pharmaceuticals for District Health Boards (DHBs). Partner reason, all providers were asked to work without their organisations included: the Tairäwhiti DHB; Plunket; the usual uniform. Instead, there was one uniform for all staff National Heart Foundation; Te Hotu Manawa Mäori; Te and all advertising within the tent carried the same logo. A Ora staff; Mäori Pharmacists Association staff; Quit Group; simple uniform (t-shirt) worn by all staff helped to address Health Sponsorship Council; Turanganui-a-Kiwa Health and the unspoken power imbalance between health providers Midlands Health Network. and patients by allowing patients to feel more at ease in Due to space and staff constraints at the festival, the Whänau Hauora Village focussed on the key health issues that most affect Mäori: diabetes and cervical smears for women, heart checks for men, and tamariki ora services for young children and babies. Whänau Hauora also offered smoking cessation support, medication and pharmacy services, and nutrition and physical activity advice. Specialist services were provided by senior Mäori clinicians in sexual health, oncology, and medication advice and counselling. connecting with the health providers. The evaluation found that “one brand, one team is less confusing for whänau, when offering health services, than a mix of stalls with little space and services to offer”.122