Arthritis NZ had the pleasure of attending Te Rā o Te Raukura 2025, a vibrant community health expo held at Te Whiti Park in Lower Hutt. This annual event brings together health providers, community services, and whānau to promote health and wellbeing in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Ajay Kumar, Tory Garnham and Zechariah Reuelu
Arthritis NZ attended alongside several other health-focused non-profits, all working together to provide essential health education. Our organisations were on hand to kōrero with whānau about managing arthritis, understanding gout, heart health, diabetes prevention, and smoking cessation, reinforcing the importance of lifestyle choices in managing long-term conditions.
Whānau could register their consent with a provider and then move through different health stations to have their blood pressure, uric acid, cholesterol, and other key health indicators checked. The results were then recorded in an app, ensuring their medical centre received updated health data. This approach removes barriers to care and helps whānau stay on top of their health without the stress of booking and attending multiple appointments.
For Arthritis NZ, the event was an opportunity to connect with whānau and discuss strategies for managing arthritis. It also provided a space to share health information on gout, osteoarthritis, and other forms of arthritis. Since everyone’s experience with arthritis is different, being able to engage kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) was especially valuable.
Te Rā o Te Raukura is a great example of how collaboration between health providers, community organisations, and whānau can break down barriers and create healthier communities. We look forward to being part of this kaupapa again in the future and continuing our mahi to support better health outcomes for all New Zealanders.