The Cancer Society Wellington Division recently opened its new Porirua Hub.
Located in the heart of Porirua City, the Porirua Hub is the newest branch of the Cancer Society of New Zealand’s Wellington Division.
Cancer Society Wellington Division CEO Darryl Carpenter said Porirua is home to a large community of Māori and Pasifika people.
“We know that these groups have consistently poorer health outcomes. They have higher rates of preventable cancers, lower survival rates and higher mortality rates than other ethnic groups.
“The Cancer Society aims to provide fair, equitable and accessible support to people and whānau facing cancer. We also aim to reduce health inequities in our most needed communities. We’ve launched our Porirua Hub specifically for these reasons,” said Mr Carpenter.
Prior to the opening ceremony at Te Rauparaha Arena, the hub was formally blessed by local iwi, Ngāti Toa. Ngāti Toa also generously gifted the Porirua Hub with a new name, Te Puna Aroha.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker and Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira CEO Helmut Modlik attended the opening ceremony, and both spoke about their personal experiences with cancer in their extended whānau. They spoke about the importance of organisations such as the Cancer Society, who are not only there to support every person facing a cancer diagnosis, but to also support their loved ones.
The Porirua Hub aims to work with the community to provide a culturally safe, holistic approach to its services. This means reaching out to community-based health and social care providers to ensure that the people accessing Cancer Society services receive wrap around support.
“One of the things that the Cancer Society prides itself in and works hard at is being in the community, for the community and by the community. We are so humbled and appreciative of the welcome that you’ve giving us here,” said Mr Carpenter in his address to attendees.
The new hub, located at 6 Hagley Street, Porirua City Centre, includes:
- A new support hub to support those impacted by cancer in the Porirua region, equipped with a Support & Information Coordinator and a Manaaki Whanāu, the first position of its kind.
- Psychosocial and holistic support, cancer prevention, 1:1 support, wellbeing workshops and programmes.
- Links to services across the Wellington Division, including transport to treatment services and cancer information.
For more information please contact:
Zafirah Talim
Communications Advisor, Cancer Society of New Zealand Inc., Wellington Division
zafiraht@cancersoc.org.nz
04 389 0055
About the Cancer Society of New Zealand
The Cancer Society of New Zealand is the country's leading organisation dedicated to reducing the incidence of cancer and ensuring the best cancer care for New Zealanders. We are committed to working with communities and decision makers by providing leadership and advocacy in cancer control, with core services in information and support, research and cancer prevention.
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wellington.cancernz.org.nz
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