Hutt Valley and Capital and Coast DHBs wish to congratulate Teresea Olsen of Kōkiri Marae Keriana Olsen Trust who recently was presented the Tu Rangatira Mo Te Ora Public Health Champion Award.
The prestige award was given to Teresea in recognition of her exceptional public health service to Māori over the past 40 years. Her service was discussed by speakers at the award presentation and in reply, Teresea gave a hopeful view of the future of Māori health if the systems of government adjust to understand and support kaupapa Māori models.
Teresea, who is the General Manager of the Kōkiri Marae Hauora and Social Services, has led an exceptional team that responded quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing food and other support to whānau in need throughout the Greater Wellington region.
It wasn’t originally a service Kōkiri Marae Hauora and Social Services provided, but with foodbanks throughout the region all closed, and with families needing to be fed, Teresea knew they had to act quickly.
“People were hungry and they had nowhere to turn. We would have people ring up on behalf of other people saying our neighbour needs help, so we needed to do something,” she said.
Her team’s swift response led to 1000 food parcels a day being delivered. By the end of a week they were providing up to 40,000 meals a week to whānau or whoever needed it.
“We had heaps of people bringing in food and plenty of volunteers, including many youth, who helped us to deliver food. We just worked hard out, but it was so amazing.”
One of the many highlights for Teresea during this campaign was when she received a card written by a young girl who thanked her for feeding her family. She said such heartfelt moments like this gave her the fulfilment that they were doing their job well.
Despite being honoured to receive the award, Teresea admitted she was surprised.
“To be honest I’m really surprised by this award, especially when you find out the calibre of those that have received the award before me. I’m excited that Maori Health get this type of recognition, but to think something as basic as providing food could be deemed to be something important to receive the award, it’s really surprising. Because it’s something we do anyway. If people are hungry we try to feed them. But I am honoured.”
Teresea thanked her team and said the award really belonged to all of them.
“Could I do this by myself, no way. If you don’t have people beside you, you can’t do your job properly. Could I have delivered 1000 parcels on my own, I don’t think so. This award may be a recognition of my leadership but it is also a recognition of every single person in this organisation as far as I’m concerned.”
Public Health Association said this about Teresea’s services: Over a period of 40 years, Teresea's vision has built Kōkiri Marae services into a major Māori health and social services provider in the Hutt Valley. Her leadership has inspired a workforce of committed people and supporters to contribute and build on the Kōkiri vision. This award is in recognition of the primary and public health services delivered to the Kōkiri Marae whānau and community and for leading work during the Covid-19 epidemic to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of Māori whānau, hapū and iwi.
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