People in rural communities hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle will get targeted mental health support to help them cope.
The chief medical officer for Te Aka Whaiora told The Hui presenter Julian Wilcox lessons had been learnt from the Christchurch earthquakes.
Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen (Ngāti Raukawa) said the quakes showed the importance of bringing in mental health services early after a traumatic event for a community.
"Wairoa is a good example. Nine percent of homes in Wairoa impacted were stickered. That's an incredibly intensely impactful event for Wairoa."
Dr Jansen said Te Aka Whaiora, or the Māori Health Authority, had focused on getting into communities with a large Māori population, like Wairoa, early - supporting whānau with good mental wellness services.
He said the support won't stop there.
"Over time we have got to get in there and make sure that we are looking after all those whānau who missed medicines or appointments, or missed a specialist event."
Dr Jansen warned whānau to make sure they got all the vaccines they were eligible for ahead of what he predicted would be a "bumper flu season".
Children aged between six months and 12 years were eligible for a flu jab, along with all hapū māmā and all Māori over the age of 55.
He recommended that while whānau were getting their flu vaccinations they also get any other vaccines, such as whooping cough or the COVID-19 bivalent booster, if eligible.
"COVID hasn't finished with us yet," Dr Jansen told Wilcox.
Dr Jansen praised the work of Māori community health providers who, he said, were providing a courageous, committed and incredible service.
He pushed back on suggestions that the work of Te Aka Whaiora could be done by the umbrella health ministry Te Whatu Ora
"Māori providers do a really good job of reaching into Māori communities and providing the support which is well received by that community.
"I think we have an entitlement to have a system that works well for us and understands us."
Made with support from New Zealand On Air and Te Māngai Pāho.
