Auckland hapu Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei are partnering with iwi across the country in a bid to welcome more Whānau to get vaccinated.
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Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei have been running their vaccination centres and a mobile vaccination during the lockdown.
But they recognise people living away from their own iwi and residing in the Auckland region would need vaccinations.
Rangimarie Hunia, Chief executive of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Maia, said it was really important to Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai maia to support iwi across Tamaki Makaurau.
She said they have been working really closely with other Māori-led vaccination providers.
"We're trying really hard to make sure that we remove the barriers to access for whānau and so part of that has meant reaching out to iwi so that they can be ones to get messages out to their people living in Tamaki to come in and see us."
"We've reached out and some iwi have contacted us and asked whether or not there are supports that Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei can connect them with when it comes to vaccinations and testing."
Hunia said whatever it takes, the hapu is prepared to look at different ways to ensure that Māori in Tamaki can get their vaccinations, including working with the local marae like Papakura and Manurewa marae.
Recently they partnered with South Island iwi Ngāi Tahu to ensure South Island whānau living in the Auckland region would receive their dose of the pfizer vaccine.
CEO for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Arihia Bennett, said Ngāi Tahu was strongly connected to a number of iwi throughout Aotearoa.
She said the longstanding relationship with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei formed through business and whakapapa and cultural engagements has meant Ngāi Tahu whānau based in Auckland are being supported.
"We've got about just under 5000 of our Ngāi Tahu Whānau who are living in Auckland."
"We're really on a drive across the country to increase vaccination rates and where we have got these really strong relationships with other iwi, we are open to ensuring that we get the messages out there to our whānau to get along and get the vaccination" she said.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whatua chief operations officer, Antony Thompson, said it didn't matter what iwi you were from, we were all in this together.
He said they were encouraging everyone to receive vaccinations at any of the centers in Tamaki.
"From the whole rohe of Ngāti Whātua, we totally support the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei vaccination centre."
"It's important that whānau also know that the west Auckland vaccination centre is open and operational through Te Whānau o Waipareira and through Kaipara, the Te Ha Oranga vaccination center."
He said everyone was welcome at either one of the vaccination centres and that it is about supporting one another and staying connected.
"We're encouraging everyone across the whole rohe to come to any of those vaccination centres."
"Kia kōtahi tātou, together as one."