Prime Minister Visits Vaka Tautua

Prime Minister Jacinda Arden visited Vaka Tautua Wellington in Porirua today, the first time a Prime Minister has visited the organisation in its 13 year history.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by a performance by the Atafu community. Vaka Tautua Chief Executive Officer, Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop, thanked the Prime Minister for the Government’s special COVID funding which enabled the organisation to provide more services and support to Pacific communities in the Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury regions.

“Because of your support, we were able to provide over 700 packages of care, 4,000 hot meals and more services and support to those most in need. Our older peoples, peoples with disabilities and those experiencing mental illness,” said Dr Dunlop.

The Prime Minister thanked groups like Vaka Tautua for their community outreach efforts, noting the Government could not achieved it on its own.

“… if COVID has taught us one thing… it’s that those community responses were critical…” said the Prime Minister.

Arguably, a highlight of the visit was the heartfelt address by Joseph Sio, a former mental health service user-now community champion. He told the Prime Minister he had chosen Vaka Tautua to help him because of their Pacific cultural approach.

“.. even when I was in really dark places, they (vaka Tautua) didn’t give up… they kept knocking on my door…” said Mr Sio.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by local Mana candidate, Barbara Edmonds.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Vaka Tautua featured in this Stuff article.

Vaka Tautua is a national Pacific health and social services provider. It delivers disability, mental health, older peoples, financial capability and social services in the greater Auckland, Waikato, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington and Canterbury regions.