Rough sleepers in central Whangārei will be able to better access help with a new wellness hub and integrated communications platform.

This new initiative, which is part of the health, mental health and addiction workstream of the Mayoral Inter-City Taskforce, which Mahitahi Hauora is part of, is a collaborative effort between Whangārei District Council, police, Ministry of Social Development, Kāinga Ora and Mahitahi Hauora.

The new wellness hub will open at the end of July, based in Whare Āwhina’s support cafe on Cameron St.

People will be able to walk in and see a health improvement practitioner (HIP), a health coach or a mental health expert. It is the aim that this wellness hub will make it easier for those without a residential address to access primary healthcare and link them to other agencies for further support.

A new integrated IT platform, called the Homeless Outreach Team (Hot) response, will help list a person’s needs in real time, so agencies such as MSD, Kāinga Ora or primary healthcare can see what is required and jump into action.

Mahitahi Hauora CEO, Jensen Webber says “Everyone has made a commitment through the Mayoral Taskforce, publicly supporting this work. It’s a community response to the need.”

If successful, this process could be rolled out further, across Te Tai Tokerau.

Whangārei Mayor Ken Couper says the co-ordinated, multi-agency response to rough sleeping in the CBD was one of the most significant pieces of work in progress by the Inner-City taskforce.

“Although services exist, until now they have not been connected in a way that helps people access them all in one place,” he said.