Tangata Whenua Allied Health
Transforming Māori health and wellbeing through courageous Māori leadership
Our voluntary work comes in different forms and at the moment most of our time is committed to Ngā Pou Mana – Tangata Whenua Allied Health. George and I are both board members. We are very proud to be part of this National Organisation that supports our tangata whenua allied health workforce. We do awesome mahi across the motu.
- Ngā Pou Mana is the only membership-based, national tangata whenua allied health workforce Association in Aotearoa.
- We promote and advocate for preventative and transdisciplinary health practices.
- Our kaupapa is to transform tangata whenua health and wellbeing through decolonisation, indigenisation and courageous tangata whenua leadership.
- Our members often describe feeling isolated, unsupported, undervalued and fearful when challenged by institutional racism, discrimination and a lack of cultural safety.
- In three years, membership has grown from 120 to over 800 members
Ngā Pou Mana define Tangata Whenua Allied Health as the broad range of therapies, rongoā, scientific and technical workforce, researchers, teachers and students (regulated, self-regulated, non-regulated, legislated and emerging workforces). Including mātauranga Māori and/or kaupapa Māori approachs to hauora.
Ngā Pou Mana, 2019
Since 2017 Ngā Pou Mana have provided
- Three Hui ā Tau – Annual Membership Conference.
- Seven Kaupapa Māori Wānanga (themes ranging from Wairua, Karanga through to Rangatiratanga.
- Taken 20 talented Māori Allied Health students and professionals to Sydney, Australia for the International Indigenous Allied Health Forum and the International Indigenous Student Health Fusion Challenge in 2018.
- Professional and cultural development opportunities for over 260 Māori members grounded in kaupapa Māori.
- Provided over $17,000 worth of scholarships to tangata whenua allied health members.

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