1. RAHUI KATENE (Māori Party—Te Tai Tonga) Link to this
to the Associate Minister of Health
When was the Core Clinical Committee established in Kawerau and how are iwi involved in the membership and functions of this joint taskforce to tackle youth suicide?
Hon PETER DUNNE (Associate Minister of Health) Link to this
The Core Clinical Committee was established in the wake of a number of tragic suicides in Kawerau in 2010 and 2011. It includes a range of organisations designed to provide a cross-agency platform for response. The organisations involved include Kia Piki o te Ora, and iwi groups such as Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūwharetoa ki Kawarau Hauora Trust, and Tūhoe Hauora Trust, as well as the police, mental health services, Child, Youth and Family, the Ministry of Youth Development, local colleges, and Victim Support.
What resourcing is available to directly assist families in Kawerau who have suffered over 14 deaths of their young people over the last 18 months?
Clinical Advisory Services Aotearoa is contracted through the Ministry of Health to provide postvention services, and does this through its community postvention response service. The service is actively working in the area, along with the local Kia Piki provider, Toi te Ora, and I understand that the Ministry of Education has also put resources into local schools. In addition, a group of key agencies, including community agencies, meets regularly to screen those affected by the suicides and to provide support within the college to the young people who are living with the consequences. Mana Social Services Trust has seen a number of youths and whānau, following recent tragic events.
How many of the suicides identified in Kawerau are young Māori, and what approach has he made to ensure whānau have access to Te Whakauruora, which is a community action - focused resource to build capacity in Māori suicide prevention?
There are believed to have been between nine and 12 suspected suicides in Kawerau in 2010 and 2011, and a further four attempted suicides. Almost all of the suspected and attempted cases are of young people 14 to 18 years old, and they are predominantly Māori and male. In response to the second part of the member’s question, I am not aware of whether Te Whakauruora has been used in this specific situation, but I encourage its use, and I will certainly be following up with officials over its availability to the wider Kawerau community.