Listening to our community
Improving health and happiness to meet the needs of our local whānau and community starts with you.
We asked you to tell us what you need to achieve health and happiness, so we can plan and deliver the right services, in the right way.
Based on what you said, we found five priorities that you want to be worked on. A plan has been developed on how to deliver on these. We will keep you updated here, on Facebook, and in The Ensign on how this is going.
*This plan is subject to final endorsement with the government.
What you told us
The following are the broad themes we identified from feedback received via surveys and conversations with members of our community in December 2022 and January 2023.
See the full survey summary here
What do you and your whānau need to be well?
Healthy, fresh, affordable food
Local access to timely and reliable medical care
Healthy, warm and affordable homes
Supportive, safe community, friends and family
Fresh air, green spaces and clean drinking water
The right medicine
Community life – involvement, events and amenities
Access to affordable and safe exercise, fitness amenities and spaces
Affordable and accessible dental care
Vaccine mandates abolished
Support for mental health
Security, hope for the future and good information
Well paid jobs, employment opportunities and affordable living costs
What has had an impact on your whānau/family’s health and happiness?
Timely access to quality health care services and facilities
Lack of financial stability, increased expenses and cost of living
Lack of support and community support
Limited access to community activities or limited social life
Limited access to mental health services and support
Poor physical health
Poor service or behaviour of hospital staff
Stress, anxiety and poor mental health
Environment, fear of going out, concerns about safety and criminal activities
Pandemic restrictions and COVID vaccine requirements
Losing a family member and misdiagnosis
Addiction
What suggestions do you have to improve health and happiness in Hokonui?
Easier access and improved health care, services and systems
Free or affordable services and fun activities, programmes/initiatives and amenities for the community
More doctors and medical staff, incentives to keep doctors in Hokonui
Affordable and healthy food, community gardens
Affordable healthcare services
More supportive healthcare staff
Community and family support programmes
Mental health support
Support programmes
What does this mean?
The feedback from the surveys and focus groups we conducted highlighted the above themes.
We’ve broken these themes down even further into four main categories; access, cost of living, mental health and psycho-social effects of the pandemic. These represent the most common responses to all three questions asked.
Priorities for our locality
These priorities were informed by the themes. Each priority includes aspects of at least one theme.
EXPERIENCING RESPECT AND COMPASSION
MANAWANUI
It’s very clear that some of us feel we are not treated with respect or empathy by providers: feeling excluded can mean we don’t seek care when we really need it. The Hokonui community has been clear they want to take care of their whole self, especially mental health and wellbeing. The Hokonui community expects a user-centric service.
CONNECTION, NAVIGATION AND EASE OF USE
WHAKAMĀHORAHORA
The health and social services sectors are complex, often confusing and our community has told us they feel unsupported and unwelcome. The community cannot see evidence that GP practices and hospital services are working together. It is often unclear who is available to support people to connect with services or navigate systems. There needs to be sustainable access for a more joined up approach.
ORAL HEALTH CARE
HAUORA Ā-WAHA
No availability, no future availability and costs beyond an average community member’s means have ensured terrible oral health in Hokonui. How to address our backlog and service needs locally whilst embarking on preventative care programmes will be paramount.
COMMUNITY INCLUSIVITY
WHAKAKAKAU
We have really felt the stresses of the last few years with COVID, the cost of living and the pressures on primary industry. Our younger and older people talk a lot about missing out on shared experiences, community connections and the ever-dwindling community services (first responders, kapa haka, sports volunteers, Lions, marae, etc.) The Hokonui community wants to ensure community resources are available, maintained and relevant. Also, ensuring opportunities to connect intergenerationally in the community, through activity, celebration and shared interests, will contribute to healthy, well whānau.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
HERENGA TANGATA
No medical availability, wait lists that are ridiculous or needing to travel by plane to find a specialist are not acceptable. Knowing who is taking new patients and approximate wait times will help us be informed, but we also need to know what we can do while waiting or what alternative pathways can be pursued.
*This plan is subject to final endorsement with the Government.
What’s next?
We are drafting a plan with Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora to work on your five priorities. This will have some parts where improvement can happen quickly, like letting you know about alternatives to seeing a GP, and some things will take longer, like having more dental services.
Once the plan is agreed, we start to work with you again to design some of the solutions, and we will review progress with Te Whatu Ora and the Iwi-Māori Partnership Board, and continue to engage with the community to seek feedback and provide updates.
We are here to listen
We are always looking to hear from our community.
Gathering information is vital to ensure we are developing a Locality Plan that supports the health and wellbeing of our people. If you have any feedback on the identified priorities or would like to share any thoughts or ideas, contact us today.