Second official letter to MidCentral Posted by Posted by Loren Savage on 17 September 2018 Posted on: 17 September 2018

A new disability support system will start in the MidCentral District Health Board region, on 1 October 2018.

The new system is called Mana Whaikaha and it is a new way of the Government giving disability support in this part of the country.

You will be part of Mana Whaikaha because:

• you use Disability Support Services funding

• you live in MidCentral – which includes Palmerston North, Horowhenua, Manawatu, Ōtaki and Tararua districts.

More choice and control about support

There will be no immediate changes to your supports on 1 October, unless you contact the system and ask for changes.

You will be contacted as you near your usual review date.

In the past, you would have been contacted by Enable NASC, but from 1 October you will be contacted by somebody from Mana Whaikaha.

At the review, you can talk about your supports, how well things are working for you now, what changes you may need to your supports, and what might be possible for you in the new system.

A Connector can help

In the new system, you can choose if you want to have a Connector, and who that will be.

Connectors are people who work with disabled people and whānau.

They will work with you and your whānau to think about the supports you need to live the life you want.

You do not need to have a Connector if you do not want to.

To find out more:

On 1 October 2018, you can find out more about the new system by:

• looking at our website: www.manawhaikaha.co.nz

• calling us on 0800 626 255. It is free to call us.

• coming to see us in:

  • Palmerston North

  • Levin

  • Ōtaki

  • Woodville

Days and times will be available on the Mana Whaikaha website.

Yours sincerely,

Sacha O'Dea
Programme Lead, System Transformation
Ministry of Health

Lorna Sullivan Director,
Kaitūhono/Connectors team
Mana Whaikaha

Marshall Te Tau Director,
System/Tari team
Mana Whaikaha

Brf and audio translations to come.