Trial to help kaumātua declared a success

Kaumātua grants are designed to help beneficiaries experience easier and more comfortable lives by making items such as hearing aids, glasses and dental work affordable. Applications will also be considered for medical and pharmaceutical expenses, and on a doctor’s recommendation, assistance for heating appliances or mobility equipment.

Previously, these grants were considered at the quarterly Trust board meeting, along with other applications for educational, sports, art, cultural, and marae support.

“As a Trust, we have made the change so we can better respond to the needs of our kaumātua by providing the help they need in a much more timely fashion,’ says Shar Amner, Trust Chair. “It means applicants can receive support much quicker, not in some time in the future.”

The switch to a monthly process was made at the beginning of the year as a trial, and the response has been so positive the decision has been taken to make it permanent.

“While the trial was put in place to enable the Trust to respond more quickly to need, the monthly process also has a practical element,” explains Charmaine Teki, Shareholder Engagement Officer. “When people receive a quote for the equipment or work they need, these are often valid for just 30 days. Getting applications granted within that time-frame makes everything so much more straight-forward for our beneficiaries.”

The grant application process itself has not changed – prospective recipients must still complete an application form covering the general details of the application, their shareholding credentials and a letter/ quote containing an estimated cost of the equipment or treatment needed.

The form can be downloaded from the Ātihau-Whanganui Inc website (atihau.com/te-atihau-trust) and then emailed, posted or hand-delivered to the Incorporation office.

“We are here to help if people need assistance in completing the form,” says Charmaine. “We really want every application to contain all the information the Board needs. That way we can get the pūtea, where approved, to the people who need it as quickly as possible.”

And approval can be given to a wide range of requests.

Most applications are for hearing and visual aids or dental work, but the Trust will also consider requests for mobility equipment or home improvements that provide a health benefit.

“Helping our kaumātua to live happily and comfortably is important to the Trust,” says Shar. “And it is an area where we are seeing a growing need as the population in general ages. Recognising and addressing this need has been a key focus for the Trust over the past year, and it is pleasing that we have been able to identify an issue and respond to it in such a positive way.”