Two years after announcing that Te Pou Whirinaki (the Wellbeing Hub) would take the place of the old Campus South stationary shop, Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson, and National Party Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey, gathered on the 15th of April for its official opening. Te Pou Whirinaki works to connect many forms of support for tauira into one building, linking them up with the resources and the people needed to make uni life that little bit easier.
Tauira, when faced with the web of student services, support networks and wellbeing initiatives, might find it overwhelming to even know where to go for support. Now, at the Hub, staff and peer mentors can refer you to the service you need as you need it. At its core, it’s a connection service. The AskOtago of wellness, if you will. Conceding that he might be the ultimate unc, Grant Robertson assured that “the people who understand the most about a person who walks in the door, and their needs, are here [at Te Pou Whirinaki]."
Te Pou Whirinaki sports fifteen Peer Supporters, who work casually, as well as four Hauora Connectors, who have speciality areas of responsibility, like rainbow and refugee backgrounds. The manager of the Hub, Geniveive Obbeek, is a registered mental health clinician.
The Peer Supporters of Te Pou Whirinaki range from second-year to PhD students, enrolled in programmes from med, psychology and social work. These guys have been in the study trenches, according to student Liam. “Having young, like-minded people who can relate is key.” So you can come here for a yarn, a chillout, a wellbeing workshop, or for a good cry and bitch about life. Not only is it a warm welcoming space to work on your mental health, you also don't need an appointment if you're in crisis mode.
Liam nodded along in agreement as he listened to the speeches, and helped himself to the provided sammies. He thought the Hub was "fantastic” due to its visible location, being “out in the open and [looking] inviting." Critic Te Ārohi chased after other students who passed by for comment, but we weren't fast enough.
This Hub is Government-funded, and Grant recalled that when he and Matt discussed who should take the political credit, “We agreed it was the Greens.” The Vice-Chancellor congratulated the Minister for "delivering" the facility, and lauded his unrivalled commitment to mental health. The Minister subsequently returned the favour, giving credit to the 'Wellbeing Budgets' of the former Finance Minister (2017-2023). Labour Minister of Health David Clark and Green Associate Minister of Health Julie Anne Genter (both tenured 2017–2020) also got their dues. Political love was in the air – a welcome change.
Matt Doocey is the National Party MP for Waimakariri, which meant that until the 2nd of April, he was the only South Island minister inside Cabinet. That job is what he is best known for: being New Zealand's first-ever Minister for Mental Health. In that role, he was keen to stress his responsibility for the $3 billion Mental Health and Addiction Fund. Wearing the bluest suit ever, Matt was very happy to have a word.
The Hub is part of a wider national project, which includes the opening of a Crisis Recovery Café for North East-Valley and South Dunedin, announced by Matt earlier that day.
Minister Doocey described his work on "the rollout of peer support services", which includes both the café and Te Pou Whirinaki. This wider project is a big goal of his during this Parliamentary term. For Matt, this project reflects a generational turn, as mental health was once "highly stigmatised." That stigma meant shame and silence. Now, the Minister is working to centre the journeys of those whom the facility seeks to treat, especially those of young people. He reckons youth mental health issues are stubborn due to a lack of identification. "Quite flippantly, I'm saying [that we should] ask people using services what services they think they should be getting. Who would have thought?"
Grant summed up the importance of this new service perfectly. “Here, every single day, someone's life will be changed for the good. Sometimes someone's life might be saved.”
Te Pou Whirinaki | Student Wellbeing Hub is open weekdays from 9 am, closing 5 pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with 7:30 pm closing times on Mondays and Thursdays.
Going through it mentally? Free help is available, 24/7.
- Gumboot Friday provides free counselling for under-25s, with no doctor’s referral required. Young people can book directly and access support quickly via gumbootfriday.org.nz
- Text 1737 for free mental wellbeing support
- Student Health and OUSA Student Support can both provide in-person care as well
