This whānau has personally felt the direct and indirect generational effects of alcohol and other drug-related harms. Through their own whānau experience, they have seen a regression of wellbeing and resilience during Covid-19, Cyclone Gabrielle and ongoing anxiety issues, heightening anxiety and stress during chaos and commotion. While managing to survive through these experiences, they are able to reflect and prepare for other situations so that next time they will not only survive but thrive. Their whānau initiative is to design, develop and implement a ‘Wellness Wednesday Programme’, as a resource to empower their whānau, building mana and resilience.
There will be monthly wānanga to plan weekly Wellness Wednesday activities and events that will be delivered to care, support and advocate for individual and collective whānau holistic wellness. Initial funding will be used to develop personally directed activities and events as a vehicle to holistic wellbeing, minimising the buildup of trauma, stress and anxiety. Each week holistic wellbeing activities and events will cover and focus on four specific areas or pou of taha hinengaro, taha wairua, taha whānau and taha tinana.
Once the initiative is developed and implemented, the strategies, tools and resources will utilised for future reference. This will ensure a self-sustained rangatiratanga, and self-maintained programme once the whāau fund has ceased.
