Tairawhiti Maori close in on 90 percent vaccination

Vaccination providers say whānau efforts are behind Tairāwhiti's eligible Māori population inching closer to the 90 percent partially-vaccinated milestone.

Turanga Health chief executive Reweti Ropiha said a range of whānau efforts were behind the mahi (work) to reach this stage — from gangs to primary industries “and many others who have shown us trust and confidence in this space”.

“I applaud our kaimahi (workers) in particular, who have been working seven days in every setting possible.

“We have been to rugby fields, hockey pavilions and workplaces, getting in the pockets of our community where people are and not expecting them to come to us.

“I think this has helped us reach our goal.”

Hauora Tairāwhiti's chief executive Jim Green said the region's vaccination rates for Māori were still at 89.5 percent, with only 92 people to go to reach the 90 percent target.

“The figure of 90 percent on the Ministry of Health's website is a rounded number.

“This was on the basis that we have completed 17,763 doses already, so ever so close but not quite there.”

Furthermore, Tairāwhiti's total eligible population was 89.4 percent fully vaccinated, with just 250 doses left to reach the 90 percent milestone, Mr Green said.

“For the Māori population, we are about to go up to 85 percent. I remember when the gap between the total population and Māori was in the order of 12 percent.

“It's a remarkable turnaround in response to getting vaccinated by Māori in our population and based on tireless and innovative work by our vaccination providers, most especially Turanga Health and Ngāti Porou Hauora supported by the iwi.”