Description
The kaupapa for the Puna Hua Rangatira Tangata Whaiora Inaugural Leadership Conference held on 18-20 September 2007 at Ngāti Whātua ki Ōrakei Marae in Auckland was born from the aspiration of ‘Creating a Centre of Excellence’ for tangata whaiora Māori who are in or aspiring to be in roles of Advocacy, Management or Leadership within the Mental Health and Addictions Sector.
The panel members of Puna Hua Rangatira, in partnership with Te Rau Matatini, (funded by the Ministry of Health) formed the Puna Hua Rangatira Tangata Whaiora Māori Reference group in 2004.
The Puna Hua Rangatira conference introduced, connected, reconnected and facilitated opportunities for tangata whaiora to discuss and hear presentations from both panel members and Puna Hua Rangatira reference group members, guest speakers and tangata whaiora working in mental health and alcohol or addiction services in Aotearoa.
Registration support made it possible for a total of 150 Tangata Whaiora to attend, and look at a variety of issues which impact on the Tangata Whaiora Māori workforce in Aotearoa.
All panel members have backgrounds that range from healing to advocacy, have a long history of supporting and providing significant contributions, supporting tangata whaiora in their wellbeing and recovery from a Māori perspective, well before the New Zealand government funded such initiatives.