Te Kāhui Hauora o Te Tauihu Iwi-Māori Partnership Board extend a huge mihi to Naomi Solomon, who stepped in to support us as interim Pouwhakahaere earlier this year. It has been a privilege to work with Naomi through the establishment and transition phase of IMPBs. Naomi has navigated fast-changing political waters with grace and humility, and she will be very much missed. Naomi will remain with us until the end of August in a transitional capacity.
After a formal recruitment process, we are pleased to announce that Kim Ngawhika will take up the role of Pouwhakahaere and join us from next week.
Kim (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Whakahemo) comes to us from Te Aka Whai Ora/Te Whatu Ora Te Waipounamu Hauora Māori Regional team and will be known to many of our stakeholders. Kim brings extensive experience in the Māori health and social services sector, both as a practitioner and as the long-serving pouwhakahaere of Whakatū Marae.
Kim currently serves as deputy chair of Nelson Bays Primary Health, is a trustee of MMPO, and formerly served as chair of Nelson College for Girls. Kim was also an inaugural trustee of Te Kāhui Hauora.
With signalled changes to the Pae Ora Act, under which IMPBs were established, there is much to do, and the Board look forward to working alongside Kim to navigate the next chapter.