First checkup at Kotahitaka

Lauren Willocks and her 18-month-old daughter, Heidi, were the first to receive a checkup from Otago and Southland Plunket nurse Jessica Hutton at Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s new one-stop community hub in King Edward St.

About 100 people attended the official opening of the building yesterday, which included a blessing by mana whenua. The building has been given the name Kotahitaka, which means unity or togetherness.

Speaking at the opening, upoko or chief of Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki at Karitāne Matua David Ellison showed a picture of his father Thomas Rangiwahia Mutu Ellison, who was the first "Plunket baby" and known as Baby Tommy.

The hub is replacing seven existing Plunket clinics and provides flexible clinic rooms, a range of other services and spaces for community groups.