Being Kāpō and a Counsellor
Kāpō Māori Aotearoa NZ Inc.
Member Case Studies
Kingi is 35 years, of Ngāti Porou and Te Whānau a Apanui descent, bilingual, married with two children and relocated from Gisborne to Auckland to take up a full-time position as a drug and alcohol counselor with the Waitemata District Health Board. Kingi has Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP).
Background:
Kingi was diagnosed with RP when he was nine years old, this condition inherited from his father, a founder of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa (Ngāti Kāpō). Although he and his siblings associated with the blind community, Kingi was raised within mainstream and comfortably navigates both communities with confidence.
Kingi is very informed about his eye condition and a strong self-advocate. As he has got older his sight has slowly deteriorated which has required him to seek assistance with his mobility and technology. In October 2015, Kingi self-referred himself to Kāpō Māori Aotearoa requesting assistance to relocate from Gisborne to Auckland, and to access technology and other supports to enable him to perform his new job with Waitemata DHB.
Kāpo Māori Aotearoa accordingly referred Kingi to the Blind Foundation, for a reassessment of his personal and work needs. Through the assessment Kingi received funding from Workbridge to purchase a Jaws speech software update, CCTV, hand held CCTV and training in using his new technology. Kingi acknowledges the assistance of Kāpō Māori Aotearoa and speaks highly of the Blind Foundation technology training specialist.
Goals:
The immediate focus for Kingi was his move to Auckland to start his new job. His goals were to settle into his job, complete his technology training and prepare for his family to join him. Kingi moved to Auckland in October 2015 and his wife and children joined him in December 2015.
The Future:
Kingi is a strong self advocate. As he get’s older, his vision deteriorates and he will eventually lose his entire vision however he is proactive and has systems, processes and a supportive whānau in place that will make sure that he will be able to adapt to the transition when it happens.
During a catch up in March 2016 he advised that the children were enjoying their new school and his wife had commenced full time study to complete a degree in Psychology.
Kingi shared that he had been in contact with the Auckland City Council about the need to fix the audio system on light crossings and that he had a positive response from the council. He also shared that he his still a fanatical about rugby and general fitness. Competing in Iron Māori quarter has been a motivational way for him and is wife to keep fit and to work together on achieving the same goal. He enjoys participating in the Achilles fortnightly training sessions, however due to the distance and lack of public transport is unable to attend regularly.