‘Just common sense’

Hine Haig

Hangi after the Covid-19 vaccine, or a kai package to take home and feed the tamariki — was it a ploy to get vaccinated?

“No,” said Te Poho o Rawiri Marae chairwoman Charlotte Gibson. “It was just common sense.”

More than 200 people were vaccinated at the urban marae of Ngati Oneone in Kaiti last week.

“We tried to do anything really that would help whānau to come get their jab,” Gibson said.

“If they needed a ride, we did that, we'd pick them up — anything that made this whole process easier.”

The marae's efforts come as Hauora Tairāwhiti DHB considers street by street vaccinations, a bus and more mass vax events to address the lower vaccination rates among Māori in Tairāwhiti.

As at September 21, the rate of fully vaccinated Māori was 27 percent, compared to 37.7 percent of Tairawhiti's general over-12 population.

In a report updating Hauora Tairāwhiti DHB today, planning and funding group manager Nicola Ehau said the DHB met with iwi last week to review and re‐set the vaccination programme to increase the rate of vaccination for Māori.

“We are once again working closely with our partners to tackle how we will get access to vaccination for those who cannot get to our fixed clinic sites,” Ehau said.

“This includes the ability for us to identify areas where vaccination uptake is lower at present.”

They would use a combination of fixed sites and mobile buses targeting areas with lower vaccination rates.

They were considering a mass vax event but acknowledged these tended to attract people who had access and means, she said.

The response was likely to include street by street approaches in key areas.

Gisborne District Council and its transport provider Go Bus is offering free bus travel on scheduled services to help residents get to their Covid-19 vaccination appointments.

It is part of a combined effort to boost vaccination attendance across the region, and support those who rely on public transport for travel.

Gibson said people generally felt comfortable at Te Poho o Rawiri.

“It was a no brainer to have it come to the pa, she said.

The vaccination centre would return to the marae in six weeks and at that time they had asked that a drive-in service be offered, Gibson said.

For whanau who were hesitant, Gibson was telling them to speak to someone who they “absolutely trust and respect”.

“I bet my bottom dollar that those people have had their jab,” she said.

■ To use the council's free bus travel, it must be the day of your vaccination appointment and you must show your booking confirmation — either a letter, email, or text on your cell phone — to the bus driver.

This free travel is on offer until the end of the year.