25 May 2009 (Te Ao Māori , Health and fitness)
By Geoff Rua’ine, NZAF Health Promoter Gay Men’s Health and Kaimahi Hauora.
The first HIV positive Māori, Indigenous and Pasifika Conference (Hui Whakapākari), was held at Mōtakotako Marae, Whaingaroa/Raglan on 28 January – 1 February 2009. I was lucky enough to attend as a participant and got to experience first hand the wonderful wairua of this awesome hui.
Mōtakotako Marae is a beautiful country marae nestled in the hills between Whaingaroa and Kāwhia. It has a stunning 360 degree views which includes maunga Karioi, Kāwhia moana and the Great Ocean of Kiwa. This was the dramatic setting for the hui Whakapākari. The hui was open to HIV positive Māori, Indigenous and Pasifika people and their whānau and was the first of its kind.
Hui participants included Takatāpui, Men, Women, Kaumātua, Māori researchers, Mental Health and health professionals, healers and youth activists. The organisers of the hui were Marama Pala, a Māori woman living with HIV and Executive Director of INA (Māori, Indigenous and South Pacific) HIV/AIDS Foundation, INA members, board members and whānau.
The hui provided a safe forum for HIV positive Māori and Indigenous people to share life experience of living with HIV, to discuss strategies to address HIV in our communities and to strengthen the bonds of whānaungatanga. A personal highlight was the privilege of hearing peoples’ very personal stories of how they came into contact with HIV, highlighting the fact that HIV does not discriminate and that the safe sex message is as important now as it ever was.
Big thanks go to INA and the home people at Mōtakotako Marae for looking after us mind, body and soul. To listen to radio interviews made by myself at this hui go to www.gaynz.com/podcast/flatoutpride/13&20Feb09 or www.communityradio.co.nz, type ‘flat out pride’ in the search box, and listen or download 13 and 20 February 2009.
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