Pasifika Medical Association Group
The latest data from the Pasifika Medical Association through Pasifika Futures – the Whānau Ora commissioning agency for Pacific families shows that 7,692 Covid-19 Support Packages have been delivered to families across New Zealand since the mandatory lock down was announced. A total of 7,497 families have received the packages, supporting 40,231 individuals.
Their Data also reveals that almost 50 percent of families needed access to a support package due to loss of income, with 76 percent not able to meet essential needs and a further 8 percent had a family member in their household that was sick.
Porirua-based health and addiction service The Taeaomanino Trust are one of 39 Covid-19 Support Package Partners that Pasifika Futures is working with to assemble and deliver packages to families.
The Taeaomanino Trust CEO Theresa Nimarota said due to the safety restrictions in place during lockdown, they decided to provide families with grocery vouchers. They have so far delivered vouchers to 417 families in their region which expands just beyond Greater Wellington.
“A number of the families that have come through this week are families who wouldn’t normally come to see us – so families who are usually able to manage their budget but now have not received any income during the lockdown. That’s the trend we are starting to see.”
Nimarota said as well as delivering vouchers to families, her team have also been making further enquires to see if support can be provided to them through various agencies.
“As well as vouchers, our staff have also been doing check-ins with families. This is to see if they need further support with WINZ, medical, housing… all of that. We know there are people that have lost jobs, so we check if there is any kind of advocacy we can do, or can assist with getting some kind of advocacy service in place – those are the conversations that are happening.”
