NEWS
PĀNUI
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 2025
24 / 01 / 2025
Since early 2024, He Waka Tapu has been proud to work alongside Lisia Ratima-Livesley, Pou Āahi – Māori Engagement and Cancer Prevention at the Southern Cancer Society of Aotearoa New Zealand. Together with their dedicated team, we’ve been empowering our kaimahi and supporting our hapori who have been directly impacted by cancer. Through this partnership, we aim to raise awareness, promote prevention, and ultimately make a positive difference for our whānau.
RAISING AWARENESS AND GIVING BACK
Last week, He Waka Tapu participated in two significant events aimed at giving back to our community and raising funds for this important cause. These events exemplify our collective spirit and commitment to supporting those affected by cancer while modelling the values of Māori health and well-being.
Hole in One and Hāngī Fundraiser:
Our first event, the Hole in One and Hāngī fundraiser, saw an overwhelming response. A total of 100 hāngī sold out in record time! We are pleased to announce that the funds raised will contribute to cancer awareness and prevention efforts in our community. The success of this event demonstrates the power of community support and the importance of bringing people together for a shared cause.
The Crusaders Long Run – Supporting the Child Cancer Foundation:
On Friday, 24th January, a small but passionate group of kaimahi and whaiora joined thousands of Cantabrians for the Crusaders Long Run. This incredible event involved running and walking 25,000 laps around Rugby and Malvern Parks, with the goal of raising $250,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation.
Together, our team completed around 195 laps, equivalent to approximately 195 km, and we’ve raised a total of $350 so far for this noble cause. But it’s not too late to contribute—every donation counts! You can still make a difference by donating through the LINK provided. As of 28th January, the event has raised a total of $216,747, bringing them close to their target.
We would like to extend special thanks to Anna and the rest of the Speed Freaks team, who generously hosted us at their HQ for the day. It was an opportunity to connect with their volunteers and whaiora, and we are excited about the potential for future collaborations.
There were several standout moments from the event, including: Amy from our AOD team, who completed an impressive 55 laps, Linda, our events coordinator, who reached 50,000 steps in honour of her 50th birthday, Karena, our KPTO Coordinator’s son, Noah, who proudly completed two more laps than his papa, earning some well-deserved bragging rights. Lastly a huge congratulations to our Whaiora Lyn, Wayne, and Vicky, who reached personal milestones by completing multiple laps
LOOKING FORWARD!
This event marks just the beginning of our continued efforts to engage with our community and promote healthy hauora habits. We look forward to participating in and organizing future events that will provide opportunities for connection, learning, and collective action.
We invite you to stay tuned for more updates on upcoming events and how you can get involved. Together, we can continue to raise awareness, support our whānau, and work towards a healthier, more vibrant community.
