TE NUPEPA O TE TAIRAWHITI FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 HOME-DELIVERED $1.90, RETAIL $2.20 PAGE 2 TALKING PAGE 6 EMERGENCY POWER OF ABOUT ACCOMMODATION TRAUMA CRISIS LIVE MUSIC TE HOKAI MALE CREATING ‘A GENERATION SURVIVORS OF HOMELESS CHILDREN’ PAIN OF ITS ABSENCE TAIRAWHITI LAUNCHED PAGE 15 Covid vaccine refusal NO TO VACCINE: Only four of 40 stevedores were vaccinated when the roll-out began with border workers in Gisborne on February 27, but Hauora Tairawhiti says more have been vaccinated since. Picture by Liam Clayton Low uptake in stevedores ‘a bit of a concern’ More stevedores had been vaccinated stevedores was “a bit of a concern”. Brent Johnston said while vaccination by Alice Angeloni since, Hauora Tairawhiti chief executive It prompted Dr Mansoor to write was not a legal requirement for Jim Green said, but he was “not exactly to Director General of Health Ashley stevedores, the Government wanted to STEVEDORES loading ships around sure” how many or of the number who Bloomfield on April 23. ensure all workers had every possible the country are not accepting the Covid- remained unvaccinated. He asked Dr Bloomfield whether measure in place to protect the people, 19 vaccine, Tairawhiti’s medical officer of Stevedores who had so far denied the vaccination of border workers should be communities and workplaces from Covid- health says. vaccine said it was their “human right” the main defence against the virus, rather 19. Unvaccinated port to refuse while others than regular testing. “We strongly encourage stevedores and workers won’t be moved just didn’t think it was “It might encourage other workers carrying out high-risk roles on from work yet but necessary. Stevedores who people to have the at maritime ports to be vaccinated. it could happen in the Mr Green said stevedores had so far denied vaccine if they knew they “Advice around how to maximise the future, a government and most other maritime wouldn’t be swabbed,” Dr uptake of vaccinations among the wider policy adviser today border workers in Gisborne the vaccine said it Mansoor said at a Hauora border workforce is being prepared. told Local Democracy were tested for Covid-19 was their ‘human Tairawhiti board meeting “This will include options to expand Reporting. every 14 days, and this, right’ to refuse on Tuesday. the scope of the health order to include From midnight, combined with Tairawhiti while others just “I haven’t seen any data non-government workers carrying out all work in managed being a “low-risk border”, but I understand this specified high-risk work at the aviation isolation and quarantine will be done by meant there was “minimal didn’t think it was situation with stevedores and maritime borders.” people vaccinated against Covid-19. opportunity” for Covid-19 ncecesary. is not a local issue, it’s a The Ministry of Transport was Under the health order, all government infections to enter. national one. But again I preparing this advice in conjunction with officials must also be vaccinated before Most ships that arrive in haven’t seen any actual a range of other government agencies, Mr doing work in other high-risk border Gisborne Port have been at data, just getting reports Johnston said. settings. sea for longer than 14 days and/or have that that is the group across the nation Dr Mansoor said another challenge It comes as Hauora Tairawhiti district come from places with no local spread, he that has got low coverage,” Dr Mansoor faced during the roll-out of the vaccine health board discussed that only four of said. said. As a “remediation strategy” they had was the Covid-19 Immunisation Register 40 stevedores were vaccinated when the Hauora Tairawhiti medical officer of offered the vaccine to household contacts (CIR) not being “fully functional”. roll-out began with border workers in health Dr Osman David Mansoor said and “those around” the stevedores. Gisborne on February 27. the low uptake of the vaccine among Ministry of Transport policy manager CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 GISBORNE RUATORIA WAIROA Local News ...... 1-5 Business ............11 Literature ...........16 Racing ......... 22-23 Births & Deaths ...4 Opinion ..............12 Television ...........18 Sport ............ 24-28 9 771170 043005 TOMORROW National .... 6-10, 17 World............ 13-15 Classifieds ... 19-21 Weather .............27 > 2 NEWS A SAFE SPACEThe Gisborne Herald • Friday, April 30, 2021 Place for men to open up and talk about sexual trauma by Matai O’Connor A SPACE for male survivors of sexual violence has opened up in the heart of Tairawhiti. The official launch of Te Hokai Male Survivors Tairawhiti was held at 73 Peel Street where Tauawhi Men’s Centre co-ordinator Tim Marshall, former Male Survivors Aotearoa (MSA) national advocate Ken Clearwater, MSA chairperson Phil Chapman, Green MP and former undersecretary for family and sexual violence Jan Logie spoke about setting up spaces like this. “It has been a long journey to get to this point,” Mr Marshall said. “Seeds for this kaupapa (mission) were planted well before today’s event and we have Ken Clearwater to thank for that — sharing his own survivor story and creating a safe space for others.” Tauawhi Trust is the fundholder of the kaupapa. The trust was set up a few years back as a community partner to Tauawhi Men’s Centre and Presbyterian Support East Coast. Winton Ropiha, a former counsellor at Tauawhi Men’s Centre, will be the peer worker for Te Hokai. “I’m very fortunate to have whanau in this space with me — knowing what this kaupapa is like as a male survivor myself,” he said. “The peer support kaupapa will allow myself to create a connection with whanau and hapu. I hope that since this is here and now, whanau who need us will come here.” Mr Ropiha reminisced about Tangi Hepi, Tauawhi’s first men’s counsellor. “He saw something in me and I’m very lucky to start this journey,” he said. TE HOKAI: At the launch of Te Hokai Male Survivors Tairawhiti are, standing (from left): Tauawhi Men’s Centre co-ordinator Tim Mr Marshall said having Te Hokai as a stand- Marshall, Tairawhiti artist Nick Tupara, Green MP Jan Logie, former MSA national advocate Ken Clearwater and Green MP Elizabeth alone identity, rather than being “just another Kerekere. Sitting are Te Hokai peer worker Winton Ropiha and Male Survivors Aotearoa chairperson Phil Chapman. service of a bigger organisation”, was “a better Picture by Rebecca Grunwell fit” for the male survivors kaupapa. Ken Clearwater acknowledged the work of people like Mr Marshall. GISBORNE artists Nick Tupara He thought of the whakaaro of not knowing where to go. The “We want to allow safe spaces where a man and Tai Kerekere talked about Te Hokai within a karakia about other arm is on the hip to look can open up and talk about trauma without being creating a name and a logo for Te Tane’s ascent through the different like how sometimes men put their judged.” Mr Clearwater said. Hokai Male Survivors Tairawhiti at levels of the heavens to gain the hands on their hips and go, ‘oh “That man will start talking and will talk with its launch. three baskets of knowledge, which well this is how it is I guess, is this other men. This will open up the conversation. Mr Tupara was asked to come up also talks about a journey that isn’t how it will be?’ “This will be the first kaupapa Maori service with a name and on reflection about linear. The feather “reminds us to tread for male survivors of sexual trauma so it is an its kaupapa, he went and sat on Te Hokai peer worker Winton lightly when speaking about our honour and privilege to be here today. I am the riverbank in Turanga where the Ropiha asked Mr Kerekere to create mamae. It’s not easy for us to do”, looking forward to the journey ahead. three rivers meet. a design for Te Hokai. Mr Kerekere said. “To Winton, don’t carry this on your own. You He told those at the launch about The end result has a meaning “Getting to know Winton need to have support around you and I am only a the walks the Tauawhi men would he shared with Mr Ropiha at the over the years, the feather also phone call away.” go on around the awa (river) and launch. represents him. He treads lightly. Mr Clearwater spoke about working with male over the bridges, and it reminded “The tekoteko is crouching over He is gone like a feather when his survivors around New Zealand, including in him of the greenstone trails and the to represent how people when work is done.” prisons. korero that greenstone once came sharing their mamae (hurt) go into A manaia head on the end of “Over the last few years I’ve been thinking around the East Cape looking for themselves and try to hide away, the feather represents Mr Ropiha about how can we get more Maori men to work home. not standing tall and straight. as a leader of this kaupapa. with Maori men. It has been difficult and a real Its journey was not from A to B, it “The hand is reaching out like “Now you now the true story of battle. It’s something no one wants to deal with went different ways. someone trying to reach out but it, bro.” or work through. “When I first spoke with Winton in 2017 and he said he wanted to do this work, I told him you “It is a huge toll on these survivors.