Pūhoro and Genesis release videos to improve access to vaccine

Pūhoro and Genesis Energy are releasing a series of videos to help make trustworthy information on the Covid-19 vaccine more accessible to whānau and rangatahi Māori.

The campaign, He Kōrero Pūwero – Vax Chats, features a series of video interviews between Pūhoro rangatahi (young people) and experts in mātauranga and western science - Dr Rawiri Jansen, Dr Mataroria Lyndon and Dr Lily Fraser.

The bite-size snippets of information are being dispersed through Instagram and Facebook which rangatahi and their whānau engage in daily. The videos respond to questions sent to Pūhoro by rangatahi and whānau across the Pūhoro community.

Naomi Manu, Pūhoro Manahautū, says the question and answer videos have been well received, with shares and comments by rangatahi and whānau, "Pūhoro is in a position to use social media to facilitate access to correct information to help whānau make decisions. Importantly, we have engaged experts to provide straightforward, friendly advice from perspectives of both mātauranga Māori and western science."

Rangatahi from the Pūhoro kaupapa are excited to front the Vax Chats campaign. Finn Martin (Ngāti Maniapoto) is studying a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Auckland and is invested in ensuring Māori access sound information, "as a Māori medical student, I want to make sure our rangatahi and whānau access accurate and culturally relevant information so they can make more informed decisions. These decisions are crucial to supporting the reduction of health inequities among Māori now and in the future."

The campaign is running throughout November. The videos are being released daily through the Pūhoro STEMM website and social media pages, and also distributed through Genesis’ social media sites.

Genesis partners with Pūhoro through initiatives in schools close to its power schemes, encouraging students to choose school subjects and career pathways in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Michaela Latimer, Genesis’ Pou Hapori (Community Liaison Manager), says the company is pleased to help extend the reach of Pūhoro’s videos through its communications networks, "at Genesis we rely on accurate information to provide our service, and through our partnership with Pūhoro we encourage rangatahi to seek knowledge in STEM subjects at school. It’s a privilege to help relay trustworthy information from rangatahi to whānau to help people make a decision about vaccination."

Rangatahi and whānau can submit questions anonymously through the Pūhoro website at puhoro.org.nz/questions

About Pūhoro
Pūhoro assists Māori secondary school students to participate and achieve in STEMM subjects, and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and mātauranga Māori. Students receive weekly mentoring in their STEMM subjects, attend wānanga at tertiary campuses each term, and are offered internship and work experience opportunities to support their learning. Find out more at Pūhoro STEMM (puhoro.org.nz)

About Genesis
Genesis Energy is a diversified New Zealand energy company. It sells electricity, reticulated natural gas and LPG through its retail brands of Genesis Energy and Energy Online. It is New Zealand’s largest energy retailer with around 500,000 customers. The Company generates electricity from a diverse portfolio of thermal and renewable generation assets located in different parts of the country. Find out more at Genesis Energy (genesisenergy.co.nz)