For the first time in four years Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency has been able to gather together as a collective to acknowledge the tireless work undertaken during the challenging time of COVID.

The first conference was held ten years ago and this year the bar was raised even higher as it was moved out of Auckland to Te Puia in Rotorua with our hosts from Te Arawa Whānau Ora.

Dignitaries began to  arrive from across the North Island into the hotel in Rotorua and gathered by the fire to sip a cup of tea and relax before what is going to be a very busy three days. At Rotowhio Marae preparations were underway with numerous kaimahi and volunteers setting up the main room for the conference with displays, seating, audio-visual technology, registration desks, Whare Tapere for dignitaries to gather as well as a communications area.

By 2:00 PM a few hundred had gathered for the Pōwhiri and the Whānau Ora contingent were welcomed on to the marae by Te Arawa, the hosts and Mana Whenua of Rotorua. It was a rich and warm reception followed by kai at Pātaka Restaurant before everyone departed to be ready for Monday’s very full agenda.

Please keep up-to-date with our conference through our social media channels.