Issue #14 - Wednesday 14 September 2022
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Chief Executives' update
E kore e taea te haukoti i te toki o Aituaa.
Kua noho pani te ao i hinganga o Kuini Irihaapeti II.
He wahine ariki kia roa e noho ana ki toona taumata, kua roa e piikau ana i ngaa mahi rangatira, kua
roa e kitea ana te taiea o te taumata tiketike.
Moe mai koe i ngaa kaawai whakaheke Kiingi, i ngaa maangainga Kuini. Moe mai raa.
The pain of death cannot be parried.
The Commonwealth and the World are mourning the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
We remember the long serving monarch who has carried her role and work with distinction, diplomacy and grace.
May you rest in peace with your long line of Royal Ancestry.
Moe mai raa
Tēnā koutou e ngā kaimahi,
We would like to acknowledge the passing of the Queen with appreciation for her 70 years of leadership and her dedication to service. This is also a significant transition, marking the beginning of the reign of King Charles III. I encourage you and your teams to acknowledge these important events in whatever way you feel to be appropriate.
Our thoughts are with those people affected by Saturday’s tragic accident off the Kaikōura coast and last month’s Marlborough floods. Thank you to all staff who were part of the health response for these events. You’ve provided incredible care in challenging circumstances.
On a positive note, it is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week. This is a time for all Kiwis to celebrate te reo Māori. We encourage you to use Māori words and phrases as much as possible. Be bold: use the te reo language option at Countdown’s self-checkout machines, order your morning coffee in te reo, or test your te reo with the Stuff quiz. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out the Reo Māori website. Kia Kaha te reo Māori!
On Monday, the Government announced its new COVID-19 measures. In recent weeks we have seen encouraging signs that winter illnesses are declining. COVID-19 case numbers are at their lowest point since February, and we hope that pressure on the hospital system will ease soon, too.
We’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone for their significant mahi this winter. It hasn’t been easy. Balancing the needs of work, illness and caring for whānau has been a challenge. You have our heartfelt appreciation.
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Abbe Anderson to the role of National Commissioner, Te Whatu Ora and Rosalie Percival to the role of Chief Financial Officer, Te Whatu Ora.
We’re also gearing up for the next phase of our health system transformation – which we’re calling ‘Transition 2.0’. You can read more about this exciting next chapter below.
Ngā mihi,
Margie and Riana
Margie Apa Riana Manuel
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Te Aka Whai Ora Chief Executive
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Operational Updates
Celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
To celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week (12–18 Mahuru – September), we’re sharing inspiring examples of waiata on our social media channels.
Since we came together as one big ‘team of teams’, we’ve discovered a thriving waiata community within our organisations. To celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (and your beautiful voices), we put a call out for people to video themselves singing waiata. We’ve turned these videos into a beautiful collage, which we’ll post on our channels throughout the week.
We know there is a raft of other activity happening across the motu for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. We’ll try to showcase as much of this on our channels as we can, so we can build more te reo into our day!
A big thank you to everyone who found time to be involved. We received many wonderful and uplifting examples of waiata.
Nga mihi nui ki a koutou te whanau katoa o Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora me o matou kapa puta noa i te motu!
Thank you to the whole family of Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora and our wider teams across the motu!
You can find our social media channels using
the handles below:
Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora
Facebook Facebook.com/TeWhatuOra
Twitter Twitter.com/TeWhatuOra
Instagram Instagram.com/TeWhatuOra
LinkedIn Linkedin.com/tewhatuora
Māori Health Authority – Te Aka Whai Ora
Instagram Instagram.com/TeAkaWhaiOra
Facebook Facebook.com/TeAkaWhaiOra
Designing how we work together
Pae Ora Legislation
On 1 July 2022, the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act formally established Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora. The Act also sets out a mandate on how Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora and Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health are to deliver an improved health system.
Te Whatu Ora’s Transition 2.0
Over the next few months, we’ll be working through the next phase of the transition process. We’re calling this ‘Transition 2.0’.
This phase focuses on three areas:
- Nationalising our functions (where it makes sense to do this),
- Building our regional teams, and
- Developing our local networks by establishing local hospital and specialist leadership teams, Iwi Māori Partnership Boards, and localities.
National changes
Nationalising (consolidating) some of our core enabling functions (such as data & digital, people & culture, finance, and communications & engagement) will help us to be more efficient and consistent in the way we work. It will also help to us distribute resources across the system to where they are needed most.
Some examples:
- From a finance perspective: we will nationalise systems like accounts payable. (Currently, we have three million reporting cost codes, which we need to reduce.)
- From a people & culture perspective: we will standardise terms and conditions across regions, coordinate workforce development nationally (e.g., recruitment and immigration) and regionally (e.g., clinical training and placement), and plan workforce pipelines for vulnerable services both nationally and regionally.
- From a data & digital perspective: we will integrate our clinical systems (e.g., booking and scheduling) to share information across regions and reduce duplication.
Regional changes
Interim Regional Directors are building regional teams and supporting healthcare leadership at a local level. We will be recruiting for Regional Commissioners and Regional Hospital & Specialist Directors over the coming months to advance regional collaboration. Te Aka Whai Ora has appointed interim Regional Directors to provide Māori Health leadership in decision-making alongside these roles.
Local changes
We are required under legislation to set up primary and community-based provider networks, known as Localities, by 2024; establish local hospital & specialist leadership teams (including clinical networks and governance) by 1 July 2023; and support the formation of iwi Māori Partnership Boards. Together, these providers will work with communities to deliver healthcare locally.
More information about next steps and timeframes will be communicated later in September.
Operating model and working groups
We’re developing new operating models. This process is being led by specialist working groups, comprising staff from our clinical, delivery, and enabling leadership functions.
The working groups are:
Delivery:
Hospital & Specialist Services
Commissioning
National Public Health Service
Procurement & Supply Chain
Oranga Hinengaro (Mental Health & Addiction)
Pacific Health
Service Improvement & Innovation
Enabling Leadership:
Finance
People & Culture
Data & Digital
Infrastructure & Investment
Communications & Engagement
Governance, Partnership & Risk
Clinical Leadership:
Medical, Nursing & Midwifery, Allied Health, Primary & Community
Other:
System Intelligence
Data & digital is a few weeks away from being completed, and the hospital & specialist services working group has been holding workshops with clinical colleagues. These groups will soon provide advice for establishing the first clinical networks.
Keep up to date
You can find more information on our change hub. We’re regularly posting updates, and we’l upload contact details for each workstream (as they become available). If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please email hnzcommunications@health.govt.nz.
When the change process has progressed further, all staff will have an opportunity to give feedback on the proposed changes. We’ll provide more information on this process when we can.
Position statement on racism
Manatū Hauora has published a position statement on racism and working definitions of racism and anti-racism, with the support of Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora.
This document formally outlines the Ministry’s position on racism and expectations for the health sector to take collective action against all forms of racism and racial health inequity.
Addressing racism and discrimination are key actions in Whakamaua: Māori Health Action Plan, Ola Manuia: Pacific Health and Wellbeing Action Plan, and New Zealand Cancer Action Plan.
This work is part of Ao Mai te Rā: the Anti-Racism Kaupapa – a Ministry led initiative to support the way the health system understands, reacts, and responds to racism in health.
It is underpinned by the stage one literature review and summary paper for Ao Mai te Rā – Evolution of Racism and Anti-racism Literature Review & Summary Document – Whiria Te Muka Tangata.
Te Whatu Ora will be looking at how the position statement can be implemented across the organisation.
Outcomes of joint-agency Board meeting
The quarterly Te Aka Whai Ora and Te Whatu Ora joint-board meeting was held on 18 August 2022. A summary of outcomes from the meeting can be found on the Te Whatu Ora website.
Te Aka Whai Ora and Te Whatu Ora hui
Staff hui
Margie and Riana regularly hold a virtual hui for staff. The latest hui on Thursday 18 August provided updates on the operating environment, strategic priorities, and the forthcoming interim New Zealand Health Plan.
See below for a recording:
Recording of staff hui – 18 August
To request a copy of the Q&A from this hui, email hnzcommunications@health.govt.nz.
Code of Expectations
On 25 August, the Minister of Health released a code of expectations outlining how Te Whatu Ora and other health entities should work with consumers in the planning, design, delivery, and evaluation of health services.
The ‘Code of expectations for health entities’ engagement with consumers and whānau’ will ensure New Zealanders have a say in how health services are run. This initiative is part of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and was developed with input from the Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC). Health entities will report annually on how the code is being followed.
This code will not replace the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights (Code of Rights).
It will take time to implement this new code of practice. To assist with this process, the Te Whatu Ora Consumer and Whānau Voice Team will work alongside the Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) and other entities to provide support.
The HQSC has also established a National Consumer Forum, which gives consumers and whānau a voice at every level of the health system.
Other resources:
Implementing the code
Consumer engagement quality and safety marker
For further information, please contact: consumers@hqsc.govt.nz.
Introduction to Engagement with Māori workshop
The Office for Māori Crown Relations – Te Arawhiti is running free ‘Introduction to Engagement with Māori workshops’. This course is designed to help public agencies learn best practice for engagement with Māori. The course is taught by Justine Huriwai, Manager, Public Sector Capability and Engagement, Te Arawhiti.
For upcoming dates and more information, please email:
crownmaoriengagement@tearawhiti.govt.nz.
Workforce Taskforce initiatives
We’re making progress on the Workforce Taskforce initiatives announced last month by the Minister of Health Hon Andrew Little.
A summary of progress so far:
Internationally Qualified Nursing CAP Fund
The Internationally Qualified Nurses CAP Fund is now open. This fund provides financial assistance for international nurses to complete the Competence Assessment Programme, which is required for international nurses to gain registration in Aotearoa.
International Recruitment Centre
We’re currently recruiting staff for the International Recruitment Centre. This centre will make it easier for overseas health workers to relocate to Aotearoa by providing a streamed immigration process and a wraparound support service.
Return to Nursing Workforce Support Fund
Applications for the Return to Nursing Workforce Support Fund will open next week. This fund provides financial support up to $5,000 to help nurses return to practice. This includes internationally qualified nurses who are working in New Zealand as health care assistants and support workers.
New Zealand Registration Examination pilot
The New Zealand Registration Examination (NZREX) pilot programme will be launched later this year. In Waikato, we’re working with GPs on training sites for the NZREX General Practice pilot programme and looking at how hospital placements can be managed alongside other training programmes.
Executive appointments
Te Whatu Ora
Appointment of National Commissioner
We’re delighted to welcome Abbe Anderson to the role of National Commissioner, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand.
Abbe will lead the strategic development and management of the new commissioning system. She will also work in close partnership with Te Aka Whai Ora to achieve better health outcomes for Māori.
Abbe has experience in both hospital and primary care, including two decades’ experience leading complex system reforms. She joins us from Brisbane, where she worked with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, supporting the development of community-led commissioning frameworks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. She is on the boards of Beyond Blue, Australia's most recognised mental health charity, and the Sunshine Coast Hospital & Health Service, which serves a population of around 460,000 people.
While Chief Executive of the Brisbane North Primary Health Network, Abbe successfully led the organisation through two significant government reforms.
Although originally from Colorado, USA, Abbe has worked in New Zealand and Australia, and has studied at Otago University. She is passionate about equity and self-determination, and says she is inspired by ‘ingenuity’.
It is with much sadness that we say farewell to Keriana Brooking, who has served as the Interim National Commissioner. Keriana has worked hard to set up the new national commissioning function and ensure Te Whatu Ora is well placed for the new permanent appointee.
Appointment of Chief Financial Officer
We are pleased to confirm the permanent appointment of Rosalie Percival as Chief Financial Officer, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand.
Rosalie brings a strong background in health sector funding and finance. With over 30 years’ experience as an accounting professional, Rosalie has the skill and vision to deliver on the responsibilities that come with health funding. Rosalie also brings a focus on health equity.
In a career that includes banking and insurance, Rosalie has recently served as Chief Financial Officer for Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, Auckland district, and Waitematā district.
Rosalie is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Outside her financial career path, she has a keen interest in sustainable development and business practices.
Commissioning
Toni Atkinson has been appointed to the permanent role of Manager of the Office of National Director, Commissioning.
Commissioning Interim Appointments:
The appointments below complete recruitment to the senior team.
- Emma Prestidge, Interim Director, Primary Community and Rural
- Emma Foster, Interim Director System Planning
- Jason Power, Interim Director Funding and Investment
- Dr Allan Moffitt, Interim Clinical Director Commissioning
Pacific Health Interim senior leader appointments:
- Harriet Pauga, Interim Pacific Lead, Northern Region,
- Junior Ulu, Interim Pacific Lead, Central Region
- Pauline Sanders, Interim National Pacific Health Workforce Lead.
Te Aka Whai Ora
Appointment of Deputy Chief Executive – Finance & Support Services
We’re pleased to announce Merewaakana Kingi (Ngāti Awa, Ngāitai) to the role of DCE – Finance & Support Services.
Merewaakana joins Te Aka Whai Ora from Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited, where she was Group Chief Financial Officer (Commercial & Iwi).
She has extensive experience in the corporate, financial services and Māori sectors, working for Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Air New Zealand and Iwi. She was recently appointed to the Board of ASB Bank as a Future Director.
Merewaakana began her new role on Monday 5 September 2022.
Interim regional director appointments:
- Tracee Te Huia, Northern
- Riki Nia Nia, Te Manawa Taki
- Patrick Le Geyt, Central
- Mata Cherrington, Te Waipounamu
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Health Sector Updates
Pacific Community Health Fund applications open
Pacific community groups are encouraged to apply for the Pacific Community Health Fund.
The Pacific Community Health Fund has been set up to help Pacific peoples develop community-led initiatives that support health and wellbeing.
In the past three years, the fund has sponsored different types of programmes, including youth wellbeing, mental health, older people’s wellbeing, and initiatives responding to the impacts of COVID-19.
Pacific community organisations such as churches, charities, and sporting organisations from anywhere in Aotearoa can apply. The total funding available for this year’s funding pool is $650,000. Organisations can apply for up to $15,000.
Applications close 5 pm, Tuesday 27 September 2022.
For more information, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the Te Whatu Ora website.
The fund is a partnership between Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
Applications close 1 November 2022.
Harkness Fellowships applications open
The Commonwealth Fund's Harkness Fellowships offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to spend a year in the United States undertaking research with mentorship from leading experts. Alongside their research, Fellows attend leadership activities, build an international network of contacts, and gain an in-depth understanding of the United States’ health care system and policy landscape.
The programme is open to midcareer professionals in government, policy, health services research, clinical practice, and health care management, among other fields.
New measles response model
Now that borders are open, the risk of a measles outbreak has significantly increased. In preparation, the National Public Health Service has implemented a national measles outbreak response model across all twelve public health services.
The National Contact Tracing Solution developed for COVID-19 is being used to support the operating model. The contact tracing solution enables national oversight of any measles outbreak and helps public health services delegate work to other services when additional support is required. This system is an interim measure until a national Communicable Disease Management System is implemented.
Collateral about the new model is available for public health services. Standardised case and contact communications have also been translated into eighteen languages.
National Cervical Screening Programme
HPV Primary Screening Project
The National Cervical Screening Programme is changing the way cervical screening is carried out in Aotearoa.
From July 2023, the primary test for cervical screening will change to the human papillomavirus (HPV) test. Unlike the current test, which checks for abnormal changes to cells, the new method checks for the presence of HPV – the cause of 99% of cervical cancers. The new test has the less invasive option of self-testing, which is expected to increase participation rates by 40% for under-screened women. It also only needs to be given every five years if a participant has tested negative for HPV – rather than every three years, as is currently required.
Any questions, please email HPVScreen@health.govt.nz.
Social media campaign
The National Cervical Screening Programme has launched a new social media campaign to promote the message that nearly all cervical cancer can be prevented through regular screening. HEY, LET’S CATCH UP! Māori cervical screening campaign is aimed at Māori and launched in August. This second phase, which has been developed for Pasifika, launches at a virtual event in Auckland on Wednesday 14 September.
Resources:
Campaign video
Monkeypox awareness campaign
Although Monkeypox (MPX) cases are increasing globally, the virus is not spreading in Aotearoa and the risk of widespread community transmission is low. To help protect those most at risk from contracting the disease, information about MPX and where to seek help is being circulated via key channels and events, including the Winter Pride Festival in Queenstown and other pride festivals in the coming months.
New meningococcal resources
New posters and flyers promoting immunisation against meningitis are being distributed to universities and boarding schools. The campaign is targeting young people living in shared accommodation as this group is at a higher risk of contracting the disease.
You can access these resources here: Dropbox: Meningococcal. Please share these resources with local contacts, particularly student health or youth health providers.
Eligibility for COVID-19 antiviral medicines
COVID-19 antiviral medicines can help people who are at risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19. These medicines are available for people who have a high risk of severe illness from the disease. To find out who is eligible for these medicines visit the Ministry of Health website.
COVID-19 antiviral medicines are available with a prescription from health care providers and pharmacies. Some pharmacies will be able to supply COVID-19 antivirals without a prescription.
Visit the Pharmac website to find out who is eligible for free antiviral medicines.
Find more information about these medicines on the Unite Against COVID website.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week starts on Monday 26 September. Resources and digital assets are available for download on the Mental Health Foundation website.
If you’d like to place a bulk order for packs, please contact Zooey Neumann Zooey.Neumann@mentalhealth.org.nz. Please note there may be a charge for this service.
Sexual health campaigns
Te Hiringa Hauora has recently launched two campaigns aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health.
Tapu Vā is a safe space where Pasifika talk about sex, its tapu nature, their own experiences, and their aspirations for their communities’ sexual health. Watch the promotional video and follow the campaign on Instagram (@tapuva.nz).
Ai, Let’s Talk about Sex is a 14-episode video series featuring young bilingual Māori discussing topics connected with sexual and reproductive health. After launching on Instagram, the series is going out via a range of other digital channels, including YouTube, TikTok, and Māori Television OnDemand. Ai is available as a podcast.
Check out the promotional video and all 14 episodes on Instagram and YouTube.
Kōrero Cards launched for Gambling Harm Awareness Week
Gambling Harm Awareness Week started on Monday. To mark the event, Safer Gambling Aotearoa has released Kōrero Cards.
Kōrero Cards are designed to help people talk about how their gambling is affecting loved ones. Starting conversations about gambling can be scary, but these conversations play an important role in helping people who are experiencing gambling related harm.
The cards are available on Safer Gambling’s website and Instagram page. Packs are also being distributed to support services throughout Aotearoa.
Media campaign for National Bowel Screening Programme – early results
On 6 July 2022, the National Bowel Screening Programme launched an awareness-raising campaign encouraging people to take part in free screening for bowel cancer. It is aimed at New Zealanders aged 60 to 74, with a particular focus on Māori and Pacific peoples. You can see the campaign television commercial on the Time to Screen website.
The campaign began with three weeks of activity across TV, radio, digital and social media. This was strongly supported by districts’ local and regional promotions.
For these first three weeks, media performance exceeded all benchmarks:
- The TV ad has been seen by 79% of our 60–74-year-old target audience, on average nine times
- Digital video ads saw engagement levels of 34%, well above the industry benchmark of 20%
- On social media (Facebook) 60% watched for at least 15 seconds (industry benchmark 20%)
- Web ads (Google) have delivered a very strong click through rate of 35% (industry benchmark 5%).
The campaign has had a notable impact:
- Traffic to the bowel screening pages on the Time to Screen website has more than doubled since the campaign began
- There were over 31,200 website visits in the initial three-week period. 85% were new visitors
- The National Coordination Centre (NCC) has had large increases in inbound emails and phone calls. Significantly, there has been a higher increase from Māori and Pacific peoples than from the ‘Other’ category.
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Stories from around the motu
Shout out to the team at Kaikōura Health Te Hā o Te Ora
We would like to acknowledge the work of Angela Blunt, Marlise van Staden, and the team at Kaikōura Health who cared for the six people rescued off the Kaikōura coast, last Saturday.
Duty doctor Dr Pippa Harrison summed up the emergency team’s response (which included off-duty staff who showed up to help), saying:
“I felt we all – from admin, kitchen, health care assistants, registered nurses, cleaners, doctor, St John’s, fire brigade and police – did small things with great love to achieve the best outcome we could with our resources.”
Our hearts go out to the whānau of those who lost their lives on Saturday.
Thank you to the team in Kaikōura for doing us proud and showing a strong team spirit.
Marlborough’s emergency health response to flooding
Ka pai to our colleagues in Marlborough who provided emergency health care to people affected by last month’s floods.
The district’s Health Incident Management Team – which incorporates local Primary Health Organisations, Te Piki Oranga, St John, and community and hospital services – provided a coordinated emergency response. Emergency measures included free GP visits and free pharmacy dispensing. Pharmacies also provided some regular medications without a prescription.
The Te Whatu Ora – Nelson Marlborough communications team has pulled together some inspiring stories covering the health response.
You can check these out on the Te Whatu Ora – Nelson Marlborough website.
Te Kamo Community Oral Health Clinic
Last month saw the opening of Te Kamo Community Oral Health Clinic in Northland. The new clinic provides complex dental treatments and diagnostics that were formerly only available at Whangārei Hospital. The move is part of a wider initiative to relocate some health services into community settings, so people can more easily access care.
Te Kamo has latest technology, including 3D imaging, and includes seven surgeries, a recovery room, and processing rooms for instruments.
Two clinics have been retained at Whangārei Hospital for people who require treatment in a hospital setting.
Archaeological discoveries at Dunedin Hospital site
Archaeological excavations are underway at the construction site of the new Dunedin hospital. The work is being carried out by teams of archaeologists, who have been cataloguing and researching artefacts to build up a more comprehensive history of the area. So far, they’ve excavated 38 holes up to 1.6 metres deep by painstakingly sifting through 100 mills of soil at a time.
According to archaeologist Alix Muir, the site was once home to one of Dunedin’s most densely populated neighbourhoods, housing up to 8 houses per quarter acre – roughly one-seventh of a football field.
Not surprisingly, the ground is densely laden with domestic items. Alix and her team have had fun connecting some of the artefacts to former residents of the area. They’ve found a teacup with ‘Elizabeth’ written on it in gold lettering, which they think once belonged to Elizabeth Strang, a former resident of the area until her death, aged 37, in 1904. And a shoe with the initials ‘SW’, which could have belonged to a resident named Samuel Webb – although they’re puzzled as to how the shoe got to where they found it, as Samuel Webb lived at the other end of the block.
Alix says they would normally take the artefacts back to the lab for analysis, but the site is contaminated with asbestos and heavy metals, so they’ve been selective about what they remove. Elizabeth’s cup and an old coin from the 1830s are amongst the handful of items they’ve chosen to keep.
Once the excavation phase is complete, they’ll continue to research the artefacts using old newspapers, genealogical records, rates, and property ownership. It is this phase of the project will really bring the area to life, by confirming narratives about the past and telling new stories.
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Staff Profile: Nigel Chee, Interim Deputy Chief Executive, Systems Strategy and Transformation
Tell us a little about yourself
Ko Tainui me Aotea oku waka
Ko Waikato me Whanganui oku awa
Ko Waikato me Te Ati-Haunui-a-Paparangi oku iwi
Ko Ngati Makirangi me Ngati Hekeawai oku hapū
Ko Te Hoe o Tainui me Manu Ariki oku marae
Ko Nigel Chee tōku ingoa
I am of Māori, Chinese and Irish descent. I was born at Kenepuru Hospital and spent the first years of my life growing up in Porirua East with my Māori grandmother and Chinese grandfather. This nurturing environment lay the foundations of my commitment to service, manaakitanga and hard work. These values have informed all of my career choices.
What’s your role and where do you work?
I am currently acting as the Deputy Chief Executive, Systems Strategy and Transformation for Te Aka Whai Ora. This role aligns with the skills and experience I acquired leading significant pieces of work during the last three health reforms. I am based at Kotuku House in Manukau but often visit the Spark Building in Wellington.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am currently working with Rachel Haggerty on finalising Te Pae Tata (New Zealand Health Plan), which outlines the health system’s commitments over the next two years. My team is also responsible for strategy, outcomes, knowledge systems, and monitoring.
What’s coming up next?
There are two large pieces of work coming up in this financial year: (1) writing the health strategies outlined in the Pae Ora Act (2022), and (2) developing a new monitoring framework for the health system. We are also working on an investment strategy for Māori, reviewing our knowledge systems and developing our outcomes to ensure we create a health system that is fully responsive to Māori.
What’s your advice to the health sector?
It has been a tough couple of years for everyone in the health system. We are at the beginning of the biggest health reforms in two decades. It’s a marathon not a sprint. Amongst the demands of our workplace, find time for yourself and your family and friends.
What do you get up to when you’re not working?
My partner Kaiser and I have recently acquired a puppy called Duke. He is a west highland terrier crossed with poodle, also known as a Westiepoo. To relax we enjoy travel, food and Netflix (so does Duke). I am a morning person so like to get to the gym before work. And I also try to get to yoga on a regular basis. One of my ultimate passions is to reconnect people to their whaka.
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