Uruora Navigator

We are here to walk alongside whānau Māori to access telehealth services and utilise wearable health devices from the comfort of their home.

We aim to reach communities most in need to break through barriers to quality and accessible health care. We work with the wider network of 156 Whānau Ora Navigators across Te Waipounamu as the go-to navigator resource for Telehealth services.

What are Telehealth Services?

Telehealth is all about using tech to provide healthcare when patients and doctors aren’t in the same place. For example, you can get diagnosed and treated through a secure video call.

The services are free and available 24/7, all year round. You can get help with health advice, quitting smoking, alcohol and drug counseling, mental health support, depression and anxiety help, gambling counseling, poison advice, immunization info, and extra services to boost emergency responses.

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand clarifies the National Telehealth Service here:

National Telehealth Service – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

Why is increased access to Telehealth important for Whānau Māori?

There is enough evidence to show that Māori Health Outcomes are extremely poor, stemming from the colonisation of Aotearoa and the broken promises of the British Crown. Whānau Māori experience higher levels of disparity in health outcomes for a number of reasons, including systemic racism, barriers to access and quality of care provided. Telehealth Services are an important tool to support whānau Māori to access quality health services.

Telehealth access can support you to:

Faster access to care and shorter wait times
Access to a health professional 24/7
Rural whānau do not have to travel to access healthcare as often
Sharing consultations and advice between providers so whānau are not sharing their health story to multiple professionals
Supporting your health decisions by providing a “check in” and reassurance for whānau
Needs based support – for things like addiction, mental health, accidents, parenting and injury

How can I get support to access Telehealth Services?

You can access Telehealth Services across the country, 24/7 all year round. There are many services available free of charge, you can find the list of National Telehealth Services here:

Range of Telehealth Services – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

Get in contact with our Uruora Navigator through the contact form to have a kōrero on navigating Telehealth Services for you or your whānau.