Three whānau journeys inspire new waiata on immunisation in NZ

SPONSORED CONTENT: This article has been produced in partnership with Health New Zealand as paid advertorial content.

Three whānau have shared their different experiences with childhood immunisations in a new waiata by New Zealand singer Betty-Anne Hall.

Story To Tell was created with Te Whatu Ora/Health New Zealand after Hall listened to the experiences of Manukaroa, Tane and Gabby, whose stories form part of Te Whatu Ora series about how whānau make decisions around immunisation.

Hall says the project was about listening to parents and recognising that families can reach different decisions at different states of their lives.

“I was able to really just listen to their stories, and their journeys about their love, and how they express their love for their children, the protection they think is necessary,” Hall tells William Terite on Pacific Mornings.

"For me, I think I received from those stories, really, it's about whakapapa, our ongoing. It is about protecting that. Being okay with different stages in life of parents, young parents.

Listen to Betty-Anne Hall's full interview below.

Hall says the song was not intended to tell whānau what decision to make.

"Conversations and reassuring that whatever the decisions you make, it's okay. No judgments."

The three whānau ,featured in the campaign, have taken different approaches to immunisation.

Tane says his experience of having a child with a weakened immune system shaped his decision to vaccinate, while recognising that other members of his extended whānau have made different choices.

"Vaccines for me are just another form of protection that as a parent, a father, we need to use,” Tane says.

“There’s extended whānau that have considered or don’t vaccinate, I’m not here to say that they’re wrong. This is my experience."

Manukaroa says her own decisions have changed over time.

“I have chosen not to immunise. I have delayed immunisations. I have done part immunisations with some of my children. This time around, our youngest child, we are doing things differently,” she says.

Gabby says conversations with other parents helped her work through questions about immunisation.

“We talked about immunisations and we would hear lots of point of views. Māmā in the room that don't agree with immunisations then we’d have other māmā who aren't sure. But what I like is that the conversation is happening,” she says.

Health New Zealand says childhood immunisations protect tamariki from vaccine-preventable diseases and recommends whānau talk with a health professional if they have questions or concerns.

lIt also says most missed childhood vaccinations can be caught up.

Hall says her sons helped write the song, bringing her own whakapapa into the project.

“I wanted to involve my sons, because we've got quite good chemistry,” she says. “We're just the musos in the background to kind of bring everything together. That's what I was looking for, warmth and a safe place.”

The song's lyrics draw on the experiences shared by the three whānau, including the idea of making decisions without judging other families.

Hall says the project became more personal when she met the whānau while filming the music video.
“We made a music video and the families are highlighted, that's what it's about,” Hall says.

“It was really quite a surreal experience to watch their short videos...and then actually meet them, sit down, have some kai together, and just spend time talking to them individually.”

Story to Tell is now available, with the music video and the three whānau stories published by Health New Zealand.