More kōrero needed to get gang members over vaccination line, health leader says
Wednesday, 20 October 2021
Disenfranchised communities need more conversations about the vaccine before they’re ready to take on the jab, a Māori health leader says.
Manager of Ngāruawāhia's Ngā Miro Health Clinic Glenda Raumati said that became clear after assisting at a Mongrel Mob-led hui at Waahi Marae in Huntly on Super Saturday.
Mongrel Mob, Tribal Huks and Black Power Aotearoa members came together after a call from Waikato Mongrel Mob Kingdom president Sonny Fatupaito to hear from Māori and Pasifika experts about the dangers of Covid-19 and dispel misinformation about the vaccine.
More than 50 gang members were at the hui, but only 14 took the opportunity to get the jab, Raumati said.
**READ MORE:
* Covid-19: Second jabs, sausages and gang hui part of Waikato's 'Super Saturday' drive
* Covid-19: Rival Waikato gangs team up for vaccine drive in Huntly
* Covid-19: Gang vaccine plan working to overcome long-standing mistrust
**
Still, the day was a success because they left with trustworthy information, she said, but more kōrero was needed before they were comfortable taking the vaccine.
“My hope is they will become the champions among their peers and whānau who can advocate for vaccination.”
Waikato Mongrel Mob Kingdom spokeswoman Louise Hutchinson said many of the Kingdom’s members were afraid of the vaccine due to misinformation spread across social media.
“Some of them still think it’s just a cold or flu. They needed to be spoken to in the Mongrel Mob way.
“It was for Paito to bring in people that he trusted, and he felt were trustworthy.”
Fatupaito was given an exemption for “essential work” with health officials trying to get in touch with gang members following cases found in at least three gangs earlier this month.
Hutchinson said he was the one who could bring all sides together to listen to advice because he was respected, which she said was shown at Waahi Marae when the Mob, the Tribal Huks and Black Power Aotearoa came together to listen to health experts and seek clarity about the vaccine.
“There were a lot of people who were quite stressed about it. One person said he thinks he’s going to die, and when I saw him later that stress was just gone.
“It’s really sad because that’s how much influence the anti-vaxxers have.”
Thirty-eight-year-old Waikato Mongrel Mob Kingdom member Jase, who didn’t want to give his last name, went to Waahi Marae in Huntly on Super Saturday to support other members who hadn’t had their vaccinations yet.
As a Samoan, he said, he got both of his vaccinations as soon as he was eligible.
It’s the only way to get the nation out of lockdown, he said.
“We’re not going to get back to normal life until we’re all vaccinated. This is going to go on for ages.
“I’m an essential worker, and I'm out there every day. It’s just b……t working in level 3. Everything’s a mission here.”
Jase said members of the Kingdom were ordered by their captain to go to the marae on Saturday to listen to the experts and clear up misinformation spreading on social media.
He said the kōrero provided by Dr Rawiri Jansen, a GP and co-leader of Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā, Associate Professor of Public Health Collin Tukuitonga and intensive care doctor Dr Annette Forrest was essential to help his fellow members make a decision about the vaccine.
“It's inspirational, this is what we want to be doing is reaching out to communities that are outside of the normal reach.
“We’re missing seeing our family and friends, we can’t travel or do anything with our children at the school holidays. The only way to get back is to get everyone vaccinated.
“I trust the leaders of this country to do the right thing and make the right calls.”
But many members have the opposite view, Hutchinson said.
The Mob’s members are some of the most disenfranchised people in New Zealand, which is why it was so important that Fatupaito brought the gangs together to hear from the experts, she said.
“You have to create that environment where they feel comfortable.”