Opening of the Vaka Tautua Wellington Office

Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Namaste, Kia orana, Ia Orana, Gud de tru olgeta, Taloha ni, Talofa, Kia ora tatou and Warm Pacific Greetings to you all this afternoon.

I'm honoured to be here today to launch the Wellington branch of Vaka Tautua. 

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge and thank all our guests here this afternoon.  Thank you Pastor Teremoana Tauira for our prayer.   I would particularly like to acknowledge Tunumafono Avaula Fa'amoe, Board Director and Phil Beilby, Chair of of Vaka Tautua.  Councillor Taim Fagaloa who is also the CEO of Health Links Porirua.

Significance of the occasion

Vaka Tautua is a wonderful organisation, providing a valuable service to Pacific people seeking information and advice about disability services available to them.

Through the National Pacific Disability Plan, the government committed to establishing a national service like this in response to concerns about the adequacy of planning, co-ordination and delivery of national Pacific Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (DIAS) for Pacific peoples in New Zealand.   

Vaka Tautua was selected by the Ministry of Health as the provider, and so it is wonderful that we are all here today to celebrate the opening of the third of the regional centres.  This office for our Pacific communities in Wellington forms part of a nationwide network of disability information and advisory services aimed specifically at our people.

This service responds to the needs of Pacific peoples by providing culturally appropriate information and advice about disabilities and the services available to them.

Pacific peoples access to health information

For many of us, there are barriers that prevent us taking up opportunities and services that we need.  They may be social or cultural barriers, or they may simply be lack of transport or technology like the internet.  In many cases it may simply be that we don't know that there is help out there or who to talk to about our needs.  It is so important that Pacific peoples are able to access information to meet their needs.

 Vaka Tautua will provide accurate, independent and objective information that will help Pacific people in the Wellington region to make best use of the everyday support services available to them.  It will be playing a vital part in ensuring easy access to a comprehensive range of disability information and advisory services. 

I am told that Vaka Tautua is the first organisation to provide services addressing disability, mental health and older peoples' needs within the Pacific community. 

In addition, they will provide management services for the Pacific Information Advocacy and Support Services Trust, and the Malologa Trust; as well as playing a part in Pacific research and training services.  This is a very wide and very important role to undertake.

The Labour-led government is committed to ensuring that our society is inclusive, and that it respects the many diverse cultures that are integral to our national identity as New Zealanders.

With the opening this Vaka Tautua's office in Porirua, Pacific people will enjoy a disability support service that respects the uniqueness of Pacific cultures, histories and traditions.

It will be a fabulous "one-stop Pacific shop" for all the disability needs of the Pacific community in Porirua and the Wellington region.

Closing

My warm congratulations to the people of Vaka Tautua and the two organisations behind this achievement - the Pacific Information, Advocacy and Support Services Trust (PIASS) and to the Malologa Trust, for their initiative, foresight and their hard work to make this vision a reality for our community.

There is an old Samoan proverb that says "Everybody paddle the canoes together; with one mind, one heart, and one hope to reach your final destination."  It is important that we work together with a helpful and focussed outlook to produce positive results for everybody. 

Thank you to those who have paddled together on this important voyage.  Let us all work together to produce positive results for our peoples.

In establishing this branch of Vaka Tautua, you have drawn together as carers who will ensure that the enterprise succeeds in its mission of making a positive difference to the lives of Pacific people who experience disability.

I wish you every success in meeting your goals for the wellbeing of Pacific people. 

It is now my great pleasure to declare Vaka Tautua, the Wellington branch of the National Pacific Disability Information, Advice and Support Service, open.

Ia Manuia and God bless.