Whānau Tahi is a group that connects whānau, iwi, providers, and agencies to build a virtual community.
They signed a MOU with Callaghan Innovation today, a company that provides businesses with the know-how to become commercially viable and they're using software that helps patients and families become better informed about their health data.
Members and associates of Whānau Tahi have gathered in Waipareira to acknowledge the collaboration of Callaghan Innovation and Whānau Tahi. Director of Whānau Tahi, Stephen Keung, says it's about ensuring Māori are coming up with their own solutions for issues they face.
Mr Keung says, “The work that we are doing can be provided by off-shore companies but it's a solution that was born out of the need for Waipareira to understand, are we making a difference with whānau, so they needed some technology to help measure that, help support kaimahi, and also to help whānau.”
Whānau Tahi's strategy has been about making families the focus. It was that value that caught the attention of Callaghan Innovation.
Technology is fast becoming a key resource within the health services. Te Kāea spoke with General Manager of Māori Economy from Callaghan Innovation, Hemi Rolleston, about how this partnership came about.
“Some of the leadership within Whānau Tahi and Waipareira approached Callaghan Innovation with some significant ideas of technology, and so what we do is meet and talk with them and see where we can help them. So we've put our scientists that have that technical expertise, especially in medical and medical devices and they got together and that partnership has developed,” says Rolleston.
Whānau Tahi has worked with international companies such as Microsoft, Families First and Meditek. Rolleston has filled us in on where these two groups will focus first.
Rolleston says, “Technology apps that are going to track and look at the well-being of our people, so I think that's the technology that we will start with, and I think that can be used as a platform, we really need to get runs on the board, so that our people can show that we are getting results.”
From here, the two groups will go further into software development for the health departments in New Zealand, and eventually to the world knowing that Māori concerns could possibly help solve problems.