Te Roopu Pookai Taaniwhaniwha Inc

Introducing Te Roopu Pookai Taaniwha Inc

Te Roopu Pookai Taaniwhaniwha (TRPT) Inc was established in 1993 “by tangata whaiora for tangata whaiora.”

TRPT is associated to the Porirua Health Plus PHO, Te Upoko Nga Oranga O Te Rae and Ngati Toa Rangatira. It provides services in peer support, whanau support, education and training in stigma and discrimination, hearing voices workshops, healthy lifestyle programme, day centre and information on other mental health services.

TRPT uses both the Poutama (Pathway to Recovery) model and Rose Pere’s Te Wheke model to provide non-clinical care and activities for those with mental illness. It is guided by a Komiti/committee comprised of 10 trustees mostly tangata whaiora. It has a new Chairperson, Egan Bidois, replacing Willie Taurima who guided Te Roopu Pookai Taaniwhaniwha for 13 years.

The services are managed by the Te Mana Whakahaere Alec Cairns. The anti stigma coordinator is Rapai Te Hau with Maria Rolleston as the healthy lifestyle coordinator. Siilima Feite is the coordinator for the day centre. Shirley Te Kooti, Jacinda Waitaiki, Dale Mackey, Elliot Heremia and Pat Tanu work on a part time or casual basis within these services.

This dynamic team is responsible for TRPT’s transition from mostly in-house activities to outreach peer support and healthy lifestyle, focused on increasing independence, rather than dependence. However, those waiata and te reo classes are still popular!

Whakawhanaungatanga is an important value to TRPT as upholding its own kaupapa so it collaborates with other Maori services, particularly Te Roopu Whakapakari Ora Trust and Te Whare Marie.