WellSouth partners with Taurite Tū to improve the lives of kaumātua Māori

Wednesday 29 March 2023

 WellSouth has partnered with Taurite Tū Limited to provide another year of strength and balance classes for kaumātua Māori and their whānau.
Now in its third year, Taurite Tū is designed for Māori and their whānau aged 50 plus using traditional Māori techniques to strengthen muscle, build balance and confidence and prevent the risk of falling.

Taurite Tū Project Lead Katrina Pōtiki Bryant says the support from WellSouth is greatly appreciated and will make a real difference in Māori communities.

“Taurite Tū is a kaupapa Māori programme designed and researched at Ōtākou Marae with kaumātua Māori, Māori physiotherapists, and Māori movement experts in mau rākau (Māori martial arts), tī rākau (Māori stick games), poi, tākaro (games) and whare tapare (Māori performing arts),” she says.

“The benefits of Taurite Tū are immeasurable. From regaining confidence and better balance, to developing close relationships through whakawhanaukataka – Taurite Tū provides our kaumātua with a new access to life. They tell us how, since attending Taurite Tū, they’re able to leave the house confidently with balance, they think about the movement of their tīnana when doing strenuous tasks and they can even play poi with their moko. This tells us that the effects of Taurite Tū are not only beneficial for the tīnana, but they also contribute to the social, cultural and whānau wellbeing.”

“We are so grateful that WellSouth is supporting this kaupapa.”

Peter Ellison, WellSouth Pou Oraka Matua says it is important to support Māori organisations that are making a real difference in the health and wellbeing of Māori communities.

“WellSouth identified Taurite Tū as an excellent service that supports our commitment to equity and ensuring whānau have access to better health and better lives,” he says.

“Taurite Tū provides a holistic care programme for kaumātua that is tailored to individual needs, through team-based ways of working across community and set in te ao Māori. Kaumātua across the motu have embraced Taurite Tū and so we need to ensure this programme can continue to be delivered.”

So far, Taurite Tū is delivered at nine marae and organisations, with another 14 from across Aotearoa New Zealand lined up ready to go in 2023.

WellSouth is supporting the delivery of the programme at Awarua Whānau Services, Bluff; Ngā Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust, Invercargill; Hokonui Marae, Gore; Ōtākou Mārae, Puketeraki Marae and Te Kāika in Dunedin; Tumai Ora Health, Oamaru; as well expansion into other Māori/ Rūnanga based organisations throughout Otago and Southland.

 

 

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