Arowhenua Whānau Services’ mental health support centre in Temuka has temporarily shut its doors again, just a week after resuming clinics following a previous three-day closure. The Te Whare Manaaki service building on Domain Ave displayed a notice on Thursday morning announcing the closure and a social media post later confirmed it would remain “temporarily closed until further notice.”
The organization issued an apology for the inconvenience but assured the public that efforts were underway to reopen the service as soon as possible.
While the cause of the current closure has not been officially confirmed, sources suggest it may be related to health and safety concerns. A provisional improvement notice had reportedly been lodged, although it remains unclear whether this closure is connected to the previous shutdown of all Arowhenua Whānau Services clinics, including outreach clinics, which were closed between March 10 and 12.
The Te Whare Manaaki service center had been an important resource for individuals experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues, promoting a Māori perspective on holistic wellbeing. It offered activities such as kōrero (conversations), special interest groups, and support for mental health and wellbeing, including guidance and advocacy.
Arowhenua Whānau Services has not yet provided further comment on the matter.
