Susan Horne

This is a brief update following the mid-June kanohi ki te kanohi APANZ Council meeting in Whanganui-a-Tara from Whakaoho Aroha/Te Tiriti Bicultural Committee (TTBC).

Just while we are all getting used to new names, TTBAC thought it a good time to introduce to our membership our new name—Whakaoho Aroha/TTBC—which means “to lovingly wake up or startle”. This name was informally suggested by our Māori members, and was in use by us following our 2017 and 2018 hui. We also decided there could be some wisdom in removing “Advisory” from our title as we imagined post-review our future direction might evolve and change, and not everyone enjoys being ‘advised’.

In 2019 TTBAC decided to go into recess awaiting the TTBAC review. Several long-serving members had been farewelled, and others had indicated their intention to resign. Unfortunately, and unexpectedly, there has been a very long hiatus due to a series of unavoidable delays in the review process. This delay has stalled our reformation, and for some time the lack of a TTBAC representative on Council has stymied progress in the bicultural arena. Last year, Susan Horne, past Co-Convenor of TTBAC agreed to be co-opted on Council to assist with the regrouping of TTBAC to consider the review recommendations and our future direction; and, importantly, to support Waka Oranga and our Māori colleagues.

To this end, we invite members who feel they would be able to contribute to this rōpū to express their interest in being part of Whakaoho Aroha/TTBC. We are very keen to hear from you. This will be a group of 4 or 5 members representing regions, with one member willing to be on Council. In particular, we are looking for members interested in thinking together and supporting our Association’s ongoing and gradual movement towards a more post bicultural arrangement in which tino rangatiratanga for Māori in relation to psychotherapy is at the heart.

Being on such a committee is a great way to get to know your colleagues on a completely different level, and be part of a rōpū that is so very essential in these times. You will always have someone to hang out with at Conference as a bonus!

Ngā mihi mahana