Street To Street, Our Frontline Kaimahi Take Their Services Direct To Whānau.

Street By Street is an initiative by Te Whānau o Waipareira to take their range of support services to whānau, in their own neighbourhoods.

Once a street is chosen for each of the four areas, West Tahi, West Rua, North West and Central, teams venture out in convoy with one of the ‘Proud To Be Māori’ campervans full of all the gear they need.

Upon arrival the team get sorted and within ten minutes the marque is erected, large mats are laid out, tables are set, heaving with a range of treats and information on Waipareira services. For the tamariki there are colouring-in books, pens, large board games like Jenga and Checkers, water toys and activities. The chilly bins are in the shade, full of drinks and ice blocks which are in high demand on this particularly warm, sunny November day.

Today North West are in Cedar Heights for the first time but they will be back hosting a BBQ later in the week. After set up, half of the team depart to walk the surrounding streets dropping flyers into letterboxes promoting their location, why and when they are there and for how long. They then wait for whānau to make the approach.

North West Team Lead Viv Cope knows it’s about patience and assurance.

“We wait for them to stop staring out their windows and come over to korero with us. Sometimes we may reach out to them. Once they know who we are and that we are there to support them, we start to establish those relationships and gain their trust. I get it, they’re not used to this kind of pop-up service with friendly strangers and kai. It’s slow at first which is understandable. Once we keep returning, they get comfortable with us being there which is the point. We really enjoy taking our mahi on the road direct to whānau, in a place where they are comfortable, and we are respectful”.

It doesn’t take long for one lady to stop by for a korero informing staff she is the longest residing person on that street.
Some time passes before another wahine comes across to see what is going on with her young son in tow. That is quickly followed by another neighbour with her daughter and soon everyone is sitting under the shade talking with with Waipareira kaimahi, while their children play games and enjoy the frozen treats.

After four hours the team pack down and they are farewelled by the residents who are looking forward to the upcoming BBQ and promise to tell the street.

Every staff member is qualified to help whānau with a range of services from mental health to truancy to health and wellness. Kaimahi continue to support whānau long after that initial meeting to ensure they are on a path of wellbeing. The team will be in one neighbourhood for up to four weeks before moving to another location. This is a well-oiled machine where everyone helps set up, pack down and everything has its place in the van.

Long-serving Waipareira kaimahi Patrick Tupou embraces the new venture acknowledging people need a wide range of support

“Sometimes whānau just need access to a GP so we not only help facilitate that, quite often we will speak on their behalf. A lot of times people are hesitant to communicate with a professional because of the way they were mistreated by other agencies similar to ours. It’s disappointing but it’s reality so we are there to get them through the process so they get the treatment they need. I’ll even pick up their prescriptions for them”.

Patrick has been on the frontline with Waipareira for 14 years and loves it.

“It started off with me coming in working for me, like a lot of jobs, people go there for themselves. It took three months for me to work it out. This isn’t about me making money for myself, there are a lot of people out there worse off than me, I mean the things I complain about are trivial in comparison. When I go out and visit these whānau, they have nothing. Nothing. So why am I complaining? It got to the stage that this job became my passion and the minute that changed my mahi became a lot easier. If I can help one person change their life around so they have a better outlook, I’m a happy man”.
Team North West will be at Cedar Heights November 4th, 7th, 9th and the 11th.

Check our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/waiwhanau to see when one of our teams will be in your neighbourhood.