Covid-19: Eight marae form collective aimed at boosting vaccination rates

by Te Aorewa Rolleston RNZ

The Kāwhia harbour region between Taharoa and Kāwhia has been fighting to lift their vaccine uptake before the Auckland border opens.

The eight marae of Ngā Marae o Kāwhia Moana have stood up vaccine clinics, worked with local Māori providers and shared promotional campaigns.

Originally Ngā Marae o Kāwhia Moana has been a practice that the eight marae have carried out for many years, where they have joined together to support common kaupapa.

More recently however they had not met for a long period of time but when the pandemic became a serious concern for their communities, the old practice picked up again.

But spokesperson for the marae collective and chairperson of the Waipapa marae trust, Cathy Holland, said they are concerned their community will suffer when the boarders open.

Go to RNZ for the full story link attached below