Gisborne Hospital Chaplaincy Report - 2016

Tairawhiti District Health - Name Change At a dawn thanksgiving service August 2015, Tairawhiti District Health Board launched its new brand name Hauora Tairawhiti reflecting the people it serves, along with a radically different approach to health care through its mission ‘Whaia te hauora i roto i te kotahitanga - A healthier Tairawhiti by working together.’

Hauora encompasses the Maori philosophy of health and wellbeing from a holistic position which addresses the physical wellbeing (taha tinana), mental & emotional wellbeing (taha hinengaro), family and social wellbeing (taha whanau) and spiritual wellbeing (taha wairua) – all four aspects are necessary for strength, stability, health and wellbeing.

For the Chaplaincy Services, the name change brings to the fore an approach to healthcare that will increasingly recognize spiritual wellbeing (taha wairua) as an integral part of healthcare provision.

Voluntary Chaplaincy Services Our Voluntary Chaplaincy Assistants have increased over the past twelve months giving opportunity for some long serving VCA’s to retire. New VCA’s are from the Assembly of God, Equippers Church, Mangapapa Church, and the Anglican Church (Tikanga Maori).

Availability of the voluntary on-call chaplains has been difficult at times due to prior commitments therefore; the Tairawhiti Healthcare Chaplaincy Committee (LSP) Local Support Provider is presently addressing the pressing need for a Locum Chaplain.

The (LSP) Chaplaincy Committee meet every two months and is currently finalizing the probable centralization of local funding with the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa/New Zealand (ICHC), Wellington.

First Maori Chaplain for Gisborne Hospital - Remembered In July 2015, chaplaincy members and hospital staff were saddened by the passing of Reverend Canon Huatahi Niania, the first Maori Chaplain for Gisborne Hospital and Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa. Canon Huatahi’s pioneering work to develop and meet the spiritual, pastoral, and cultural needs of Maori patients, whanau/families, and staff, is a special legacy to everyone who received his pastoral care, knowledge and mentorship. His final contribution to hospital chaplaincy was organizing the Commissioning Service for the current Gisborne Chaplain who was his Voluntary Chaplaincy Assistant, 28 years ago and his membership on the LSP Chaplaincy Committee in 2015 representing Te Hui Amorangi o Te Tairawhiti. A fitting tribute to our pioneer… ‘When a man has done what he considers his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace.’ (Nelson Mandala)

Thank you To Bishop Andrew Hedge and members of the Diocese of Waiapu, your continued support of the Chaplaincy Services at Hauora Tairawhiti has been greatly appreciated – thank you.

Reverend Patsy Ngata-Hills Chaplain