How awesome it is for Green Prescription participant Nita to be able to kōrero Māori with her support person – something that would be great to see more often across the health sector.

Tēnā koe Louisa, Aroha mai, kei te kura au. Engari pai hoki au i te ra nei. No era atu wiki e wha pea, he ahua mauiui.  Na te maremare o te whuru. Kei raru i ahau! 🙄 I mea mai te takuta kia inu wai, moe, ngawari noa-iho. Te hoha hoki😏
E hia ana au te hoki ki te kaukau. Engari pau hau lol. No reira, mehemea e hia ana te korero ki a hau? Waea mai ano.

Nga mihi Nita.

When Māori patients use Te Reo Māori within a clinic setting, it provides the opportunity for clinicians to engage in a deeper level of communication to support more effective assessment and support of health goals.

For Nita, having the ability to converse in Te Reo Māori helped her to connect with the idea of Green Prescription. She felt more comfortable within herself to share and develop plans for better health outcomes.

At first Nita expressed shock, as she had never attended any clinic that offered a Te Reo speaking kaimahi. She then expressed her gratitude for the experience. 

Kaimahi becoming competent and confident speakers in a clinical setting, can be integral to how the hononga (connection) with individuals, regarding the programme recommended, may proceed. 

Sport Northland recognise the importance of acknowledging Māori cultural identity and heritage. Embracing practices in supporting Māori to experience success as learners and questioning is a step forward for any organisation. Nita felt that the experience added value to herself, where her identity and feelings of belonging enhanced her Mana and ownership of her Hauora.