Ruapehu Wellness Centre: Toward a Community-Designed Model of Care
Ruapehu Wellness Centre: Toward a Community-Designed Model of Care captures the collective voice of the Waimarino community as they reimagine a connected, culturally grounded, people-centred wellness system. Built from more than 1,500 community insights gathered in Raetihi and Ohakune, the report highlights six persistent challenges faced by whānau — from fragmented pathways and inconsistent information to cultural mismatch, shame, and a lack of holistic support.
The report lays out a powerful future reality where services are coordinated, values-aligned, culturally safe, and designed with whānau, not just for them. It outlines practical pathways toward a transformed wellness ecosystem: shared values, integrated service design, consent-driven data sharing, KEKA navigators, community-led supports, merging worldviews, and a continuum of care that honours people as whole beings. This document positions the Ruapehu Wellness Centre as a catalyst for collective impact, equity, and long-term wellbeing for the region.