The night saw several partners acknowledged for specific areas of work as well as a Navigator of the Year for their commitment to serve.
PFL CEO, Debbie Sorensen, expressed her gratitude to partners and Navigators' for their passion, heart and leadership.
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2023 Whānau Ora Awards:
Special Acknowledgement Award
Etu Pasifika Auckland
Recognised for their work in serving Pacific communities through their General Practice services. Etu Pasifika was the recipient of a 2022 ProCare Quality Award, having won the Patient Satisfaction Award in the Medium Practice category. They continue to grow and have become a trusted and respected healthcare provider making a difference in the lives of Pacific communities in Auckland.
Covid-19 and Emergency Response Awards
The Fono
The Fono was at the forefront of providing support to Pacific communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. As an organisation, they provided over 16,000 Whanau Ora packages of support during the Omicron and Delta response.
Nelson Tasman Pasifika Trust
The team at Nelson Tasman Pasifika Trust provided over 600 support packages to families in need during the pandemic. They also worked closely with PMA's PACMAT team to provide primary health and mental health support to RSE workers in isolation. In August 2022 their team supported families affected by flooding in the region.
Vahefonua Tonga Methodist Mission Charitable Trust (SIAOLA)
SIAOLA partnered with PFL during the recent flooding in Auckland and Cyclone Gabrielle to support Tongan and Pacific communities in Auckland and the Hawke's Bay region; they provided over 1,000 packages of support.
Whānau Ora Auckland Region Award
Tongan Health Society
The team at Tongan Health Society provides healthcare services to Pacific communities across Auckland. Since 2021, they have worked with close to 400 families.
Whānau Ora Central Region Award
Wellington Tongan Leaders Council
Established in 2012, the Wellington Tongan Leaders Council serves the Tongan community in the Wellington region. Made up of church and community leaders, their vision is to help Tongan families prosper and be successful.
Whānau Ora Midlands Region Award
K'aute Pasifika Trust
The charitable trust has grown to become a well-respected provider of health and social services in the Waikato region. Their Whānau Ora team has engaged with over 500 families and they recently launched their Pan Pacific Community Hub.
Whānau Ora South Island Region Award
Marlborough Pasifika Trust
The team in Marlborough aims to empower Pasifika people and to foster a sense of belonging and connection within the community. Their Whānau Ora team have engaged with over 130 families and currently work alongside 67 registered families.
Innovation Awards
Ōtāhuhu College
With a student body of over 900, Ōtāhuhu College, has constantly challenged and inspired students to excel in their academic, sporting and cultural endeavours. They have implemented a focused program at increasing engagement in STEM subjects which has seen more students become interested in pursuing post-secondary studies and opportunities in these fields.
CIDANZ
Based in Mangere, CIDANZ supports 150 families through the Whanau Ora programme, through the provision of their Enterprising Families Programme. As an organisation, they have serviced thousands of Cook Islands families during the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
Commissioning for Communities Award
Atafu Tokelau Porirua
One of Atafu Tokelau's key priorities is education; they received a grant for over three years from PFL to support their Fanogagalu programme, which is a collaborative project between Atafu Tokelau, Glenview Primary School, Brandon Intermediate School and Porirua College. They will also be launching the first ever Tokelauan immersion primary school education class in New Zealand.
Whānau Ora Navigator of the Year
Ofeira Taulealeausumai – The Fono
Ofeira has been recognised for her compassion and effectiveness as a Navigator, providing wraparound support and care for Pasifika families with the utmost dedication. Ofeira's efforts have been acknowledged with a recent promotion to Team Lead, where she continues to approach her work with tenacity, servant leadership and commitment.
The evening ended with an acknowledgement for the Honourable Aupito William Sio, who will be retiring from politics at the 2023 election. PFL Board Member, La'auli Sir Michael Jones, thanked him for his service and leadership, before Pasifika Medical Association Group (PMAG) Board Member, Sir Collin Tukuitonga, shared his gratitude on behalf of PMAG. CEO of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone, concluded the acknowledgement, followed by Sio's heartfelt response and a taualuga to close the evening.