No ‘I’ in team for Turanga Health chief

HARD YARDS: Reweti Ropiha, chief executive of Turanga Health for 25 years, has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours List. Picture by Liam Clayton

Turanga Health chief executive Reweti Ratu Ropiha was too stunned to speak when he found out he was named in the New Year's Honours List for 2023.

Mr Ropiha (Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri) has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori health.

“I tried to stay under the radar and dodge this left, right and centre, but I have to swallow this pill and accept this on behalf of all the hard mahi we at Turanga Health have done,” said Mr Ropiha, who has been Turanga Health chief for 25 years.

Mr Ropiha transformed Turanga Health from a whānau client list of 10 to more than 3000 today.

The organisation continues to provide health and wellbeing care to Māori throughout Gisborne.

“I was stunned for words,” he said after learning of his honour.

“I'm quite conscious there are thousands of people (involved) in the good mahi that has happened, so I was pretty humbled and gracious about it.

Mr Ropiha applauded the many who helped pave the way for the health provider in its early days.

“Looking at the time when we began 25 years ago, we were running on the smell of an oily rag.

“There's been heaps of trials and tribulations that have made the space where we are now.

“All those hard yards have accumulated into what we have today.”

Turanga Health is one of the Maori health providers on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic, providing spaces for whānau to get vaccinated and the necessary health supplies.

It has set up successful programmes covering a range of health areas including smoking cessation, mental health, long-term conditions, nutrition, tamariki services, and kaumatua and primary care.

Services are delivered to homes, marae, workplaces and other whānau-accessible locations.

Mr Ropiha has been closely involved with other organisations and charities such as the Vanessa Lowndes Centre, Te Runanga o Turanganui A Kiwa, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri Whanui Trust, Turanganui Primary Health Organisation, C Company Memorial House, Sunrise Foundation, Mātai Medical Research Institute and Te Muriwai Marae.

He credited and thanked his parents Wikitoria Paratene and Ratu Ropiha for the pathway they carved for him.

“As the years go by, I can see the resolutions they had for me put me in a space to prosper.”

He also acknowledged his direct whānau — sons Reweti Jr, Inatiaus and Te Awa and wife Di Akurangi for being prepared to accommodate the needs required to do the mahi.

“It's a big sacrifice too which I am forever appreciative of.”

He also thanked the Turanga communities he has served over the past 25 years.

“And to the kaimahi and directors of Turanga Health, I want to thank you all for your ongoing commitment.

“You won't get far by using the word ‘I'.”