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Serving with Manaaki

This manual emphasises an approach that places manaaki and manaakitanga at the core of our work, as outlined in the Equity preliminary chapter. This means understanding that manaaki is a way of being and interacting with others, not a service. Taking a manaaki-first approach means that some individuals and their whānau may require extra time, support and understanding and recognises that we need to be adaptable in our approach to meet these needs.

Manaakitanga means ensuring our actions uplift and enhance the dignity of others. It guides us to collaborate on solutions that achieve equitable outcomes. This relational approach creates a nurturing, trusting and inclusive environment, where individuals and whānau feel valued and respected.

Principles

  1. CD Manual users will actively prioritise and incorporate the principles from Equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori health preliminary chapters into their practices.
  2. Relationships with Hauora Māori, Pacific Public Health and Disability partners and communities within the regions are pivotal to delivering and securing sustainable welfare and manaaki systems that are appropriate and responsive to Māori, Pacific, Disability and other priority communities. 
  3. The unique configuration of services across the four regions underscores the importance of regional leadership and the need to investigate local community organisations for potential partnerships.

Welfare Services Overview

This appendix supports public health professionals by providing a general guide to the types of welfare support to consider when assisting cases and contacts for any notifiable disease.  

Information about available services

Information about available services
  • Family Services Directory: An online database that lists family support organisations and the services they offer across Aotearoa New Zealand. It helps individuals and families find support for various needs, including:
      • Financial assistance
      • Housing support
      • Employment services
      • Food assistance
      • Health and wellbeing services
      • Driver training and support
    • Website: Family Services Directory
  • Citizen Advice Bureau:  Provides free, confidential, and independent advice to help people understand their rights and access the services they need. They can provide advice on topics such as:
      • money: benefits, loans, taxes, budgeting, and debt
      • employment: work relationships, wages, leave, and workplace issues
      • housing: tenancy, home ownership, and social housing
      • family and personal matters: parenting, relationships, and violence.
    • Website: Citizens Advice Bureau (cab.org.nz)
    • Phone: 0800 367 222
  • The Rural Support Trust: Local, rural individuals who offer support to others in rural communities facing a range of challenges.
  • Community Law: Centres across Aotearoa New Zealand offer free legal help, including advice and representation to ensure everyone has access to legal assistance.

Financial assistance

Financial assistance
  • Work and Income: An organisation within the Ministry of Social Development that provides financial support for emergencies and ongoing needs, including benefits.
  • Salvation Army: Provides emergency assistance, which can sometimes include phone credit for individuals in crisis situations.

Food, water, hygiene, and clothing

Food, water, hygiene, and clothing
  • New Zealand Food Network Hubs: Organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand that work on the frontline to provide food support to communities by distributing bulk surplus and donated food from the New Zealand Food Network.
  • Salvation Army: Provides essential welfare services across Aotearoa New Zealand, including food parcels, budgeting advice, and various support programmes through over 50 Community Ministries centres.
  • Auckland City Mission: Supports people in need by providing food assistance, housing support and healthcare services.
  • Wellington City Mission: Supports the community by providing food assistance through their Social Supermarket, financial mentoring, and social work support.
  • Christchurch City Mission: Offers a wide range of services, including emergency food assistance and social work.

Medication and other health needs

Medication and other health needs
  • Healthline: Offers free health advice and can assist in finding nearby pharmacies or options for getting emergency medication.
  • National Hauora Coalition: Delivers mental health and addiction services specifically for Māori, by Māori.
  • Healthpoint: A comprehensive online directory that provides up-to-date information about healthcare providers, services, and treatments available in Aotearoa New Zealand. It helps people find the right healthcare services based on their needs and location.
  • The Fono: Primarily serves the Auckland region, with multiple healthcare and family care centres located in areas such as Henderson, Auckland CBD, Blockhouse Bay, Manurewa, and Northcote.
  • Alcohol and Drug Helpline: Offers confidential support, information, and advice for those affected by substance use, including referrals to local services.
  • Odyssey House: Provides residential and community-based treatment for those with drug and alcohol addiction. Primarily located in Auckland, Christchurch and Northland.
    • Website: Odyssey
    • Phone: 09 638 4957
  • Salvation Army Bridge Programme: Offers treatment and support services for people struggling with addiction, operating from 20 centres across New Zealand.
  • The Burnett Foundation Aotearoa: Focuses on preventing HIV transmission and supporting those affected through education, advocacy, and healthcare services.

Shelter or accommodation

Shelter or accommodation
  • Ministry of Social Development Shelter and Accommodation Support:
    • Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant:
      1. Provides financial assistance to individuals and families who are in urgent need of temporary accommodation.
      2. The grant covers the cost of emergency housing for a short period while the individual or family looks for long-term housing solutions.
      3. People can apply through Work and Income, and eligibility depends on the individual's circumstances.
    • Website: https://check.msd.govt.nz/services/special-needs-grant
    • Phone: 0800 559 009
  • Lifewise: Offers housing, support services, and outreach programmes to help the homeless population in Auckland and Rotorua.

Psychological first aid and psychosocial support

Psychological first aid and psychosocial support
  • 1737 – Need to Talk?: A free helpline offering confidential support from trained counsellors.
    • Phone: Free call or text 1737 anytime
  • Lifeline New Zealand: A free helpline for anyone feeling stressed, anxious, or needing someone to talk to.
    • Phone: 0800 543 354
  • Samaritans NZ: Provides confidential emotional support for people who are lonely, distressed, or in despair.
    • Phone: 0800 72 66 66
  • Youthline: Provides counselling and support for young people dealing with various issues.
    • Phone: 0800 376 633
  • Shine: Offers free helpline, advocacy, and safety planning for those affected by family violence.
    • Website: Shine
    • Phone: 0508 744 633
  • New Zealand Red Cross: Provides support to communities before, during, and after disasters, prioritising people’s emotional and physical well-being.

Care and support for

Care and support for

Disability and Family Advocacy

  • Lifewise: Resources and advocacy for disabled individuals and their families.

Domestic Violence Support

  • Women's Refuge: Provides free advice, support, and crisis assistance related to domestic violence.
  • Te Whare Aio - Māori Women's Refuge: A Māori women's refuge in Auckland offering a safe space and support for wahine and tamariki experiencing violence.
  • Shakti Woman’s Refuge: Supports immigrant women facing cultural oppression and domestic violence and has evolved into a national organisation with eight centres and five refuges across Aotearoa New Zealand, providing a 24-hour domestic violence intervention service.

Rainbow Community Support

  • Rainbow Youth: A national youth-led organisation supporting queer, gender-diverse, takatāpui, and intersex youth and their whānau through drop-in centres, social groups, one-on-one support, identity document assistance, and various information resources.
  • OutLine: A rainbow mental health organisation offering free, confidential support across Aotearoa New Zealand through a nationwide 0800 phone line, online chat, transgender peer support in Auckland, and specialist counselling on gender and sexuality for LGBTIQ+ people.
    • Website: OutLine
    • Phone: 0800 688 5463
  • InsideOUT: A national organisation working with youth, whānau, schools, and communities to create a safer Aotearoa New Zealand for rainbow young people by offering support, resources for schools, youth events, and workplace training.
  • Intersex Aotearoa: The key organisation providing affirmation, advocacy, and referrals for intersex people and their whānau, as well as information for service providers and professionals.
  • Gender Minorities Aotearoa: A nationwide, transgender-led organisation offering information, advocacy, and support for transgender, non-binary, intersex, and takatāpui people, running The Gender Centre in Wellington and providing online support, including through the Transgender & Intersex NZ Facebook group.
  • Rainbow Path: An advocacy and peer support group for rainbow refugees and asylum seekers in Aotearoa New Zealand, offering support, connecting individuals with services, and advocating for their rights while educating allies and professionals.
  • Adhikkar Aotearoa: An organisation that provides advocacy, education and support for LGBTQIA+ people of colour, particularly South Asians, in Aotearoa New Zealand.
  • Nevertheless: Focuses on Māori, Pasifika, and Takatāpui Rainbow+ mental health by creating safe spaces for authentic expression and runs Manioro events that challenge harmful stereotypes through workshops, storytelling, performances, and discussions.
  • Rainbow Violence Network: A nationwide collective working to ensure all rainbow people in Aotearoa New Zealand are free from family and sexual violence and have access to safe support.
  • Rainbow Support Collective: Links peer-led LGBTQIA+ organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand, collaborating on projects and advocacy to support rainbow communities.
  • I’m Local: Provides free gender and sexuality resources to high schools, medical centres, hospitals, libraries, marae, and community centres in rural Aotearoa and features a regional directory of queer and gender-diverse support groups on its website.

Animal and pet assistance

Animal and pet assistance
  • SPCA: In some cases, provides care and support to pets if their owners are hospitalised or unable to care for them due to an emergency.