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New name and website for °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü

30 September 2021
°Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü, formerly Werry Workforce °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü, is completely embracing its MÄ�ori name with a new website, URL and social media handles.

, a UniServices business unit, has its roots in the Werry Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, which was launched in 2003. In 2016, ‘Werry Workforce °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü’ emerged as a separate workforce arm of the once combined workforce, research and teaching entity that made up the original Werry Centre.

The name °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü was gifted by the Northern Regional Iwi Leaders Forum. ‘°Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü’ is an early MÄ�ori term for small temporary transportable huts to shelter gatherers of tÄ«tÄ« - the muttonbird. °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü were constructed by using locally available resources such as mÄ�nuka, nÄ«kau, harakeke, etc

°Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü provided shelter and support for the workers, the hunters and those plucking and preparing the birds. In the same way, °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü moves about the country providing training and support to the workforce.

 was a key part of gifting the name °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü. RÄ�wiri was kaumÄ�tua for °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü from 2003 until his passing in June 2021. He had extensive experience in the Child and Youth Mental Health field. Under the guidance of Matua RÄ�wiri, the °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü team was able to ensure all projects embraced principles and values of the Tiriti Å� Waitangi and WhÄ�nau Ora, to maintain strong alignment with MÄ�ori Models of Care and approaches to wellbeing – something we continue to strive to do.

Now, in memory of Matua RÄ�wiri, we are fully embracing our name, °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü. Our new website is . Not only has the URL changed, the site features many updates and easier-to-navigate functions. The organisation’s Facebook and Twitter handles will also change to @wharaurau. 

There have been other major changes at °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü lately. Director Sue Dashfield has been seconded to the Ministry of Health as programme director, Health Workforce, in the Mental Health and Addiction Directorate. Abigail Milnes has been named as °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü acting director.

°Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü also moved its head office recently to more spacious premises on City Road. The team had just two days to enjoy its new offices before the Level 4 lockdown was declared. However, the team is looking forward to an eventual return.

What remains unchanged is the work of °Â³óÄå°ù²¹³Ü°ù²¹³Ü as a national centre for infant, child and youth mental health workforce development. Events are continuing online and resources continue to be updated regularly. To learn more, visit the or