Tihei Wairoa.

Tihei Wairoa is dedicated to improving access to health and wellbeing services across Wairoa by listening to whānau voices, identifying community needs, and working closely with iwi, local leaders, and service providers to bring about meaningful change.

We operate as a pilot locality under Aotearoa’s health system reform, building an innovative model for rural healthcare and wellbeing by fostering relationships, creating trust, and tailoring solutions specific to Wairoa’s unique challenges and strengths.

Our Principles: Tihei Wairoa is built upon a foundation of core values that guide our approach:

• Whānau Ora, Whānau First: Prioritizing the needs and aspirations of whānau across Wairoa.

• Āta Haere: Taking deliberate, thoughtful action that allows time for learning and improvement, while focusing on practical solutions.

• Kia Tika, Kia Pono: Using a strengths-based approach informed by whānau voices and guided by transparency and integrity.

Our Approach: The ‘locality’ model is a place-based approach to improving the health and wellbeing of communities, designed to integrate services with the unique needs of each locality. Wairoa, one of the smallest localities and the only one in Hawke’s Bay, was chosen as a pilot due to its high Māori population and unique community spirit. Through this approach, we aim to co-design health initiatives with our community, ensuring they are led by Wairoa, for Wairoa, and with Wairoa.