A morning with the NPHS
Getting out and talking to people about our mahi is always a highlight.
Last week, Pouwhakahaere Kim Ngawhika was invited to speak at the Matariki event for the National Public Health Service - Te Tauihu | Nelson Marlborough.
We gave an update of our work and shared context around Whānau Voice and why listening matters, acknowledging that every day our NPHS kaimahi are at the forefront of delivering critical programmes within their communities.
A huge mihi to Felicity Spencer, NPHS, Te Tauihu Community & Whānau Wellbeing Manager, for the invitation, Vince Barry, NPHS Regional Director Te Waipounamu, and the entire NPHS team.
Ngā Matapihi o te Wairua
Last month, Nelson Bays Primary Health hosted Ngā Matapihi o te Wairua, a national forum that brings together Māori leaders from across primary health care to strengthen relationships, share knowledge, and collectively advance equitable health outcomes for whānau Māori.
The two-day hui began with a pōwhiri at Whakatū Marae, followed by a thought-provoking discussion on the Nelson Tenths, providing important historical context, and a tour of sites of significance, where attendees heard local kōrero and gained a deeper understanding of the stories, people, and places that have shaped Whakatū.
Day two was dedicated to the work of the forum, with leaders discussing current priorities, emerging opportunities, and the evolving primary health landscape.
Ngā Matapihi o te Wairua is supported by General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ) and includes Māori health leaders from Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), Hauora Māori providers, and Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand. Its purpose is to strengthen Māori leadership in primary care and collectively advocate for better health outcomes for whānau Māori.
The group's work is guided by values including:
- Tika, pono, aroha (integrity, honesty, compassion)
- Kotahitanga (unity)
- Whanaungatanga (relationships and connectedness)
- Tautoko te tahi ki te tahi (supporting one another)
- Āwhinatia (helping and uplifting others)
Rather than being a conference or one-off event, Ngā Matapihi o te Wairua is an ongoing national network. Members meet regularly for wānanga and hui to discuss Māori health priorities, share innovations, influence policy, and strengthen relationships across the primary health sector.
Pēpi Ora – Supporting Māmā, Pēpi and Whānau
Maataa Waka ki Te Tauihu will this month deliver their first Pēpi Ora Wānanga at Omaka Marae.
The new initiative is being delivered across Te Tauihu to support the wellbeing of māmā, pēpi, and whānau during one of life’s most important journeys.
The programme provides holistic support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period, helping māmā build confidence, strengthen connections, and access the care they need to thrive. Support is delivered through wānanga, structured hui, one-to-one mentoring, and wraparound care for māmā experiencing anxiety, postnatal challenges, or adjustment to parenthood.
At the heart of Pēpi Ora is whanaungatanga. The programme creates opportunities for whānau to connect with others, learn new skills, share experiences, and build supportive relationships that continue long after the programme ends.
For more information, see here or email Kowhai ([email protected]).
Clinical Lead
Clinical Lead
Whakatū, preferred – but negotiable
Fixed term: Now – July 31, 2027
Te Kāhui Hauora o Te Tauihu IMPB has a vacancy for a Clinical Lead to provides clinical leadership across Te Kāhui Hauora, ensuring that whānau voice informs clinical thinking, service improvement, and system transformation.
Working alongside the Pouwhakahaere and Whānau Voice Lead, the Clinical Lead provides clinical leadership to support the implementation of Te Kāhui Hauora's Community Health Plan. By interpreting Whānau Voice through a clinical lens and working collaboratively across the health system, the Clinical Lead helps translate strategic priorities into practical improvements that enhance the health and wellbeing of whānau across Te Tauihu.
The Clinical Lead will represent Te Kāhui Hauora within clinical and sector forums, building trusted relationships with Health New Zealand, Primary Health Organisations, clinicians, providers, iwi, and community partners. The role works across organisational boundaries to influence clinical pathways, improve equity, and support more integrated, whānau-centred models of care.
Rather than providing direct clinical services, the Clinical Lead acts as the bridge between the experiences of whānau and the clinical systems that shape their healthcare journeys, ensuring that whānau voice informs operational direction, service improvement, and strategic decision-making.
Success in this role will be reflected not only in stronger clinical relationships, but in measurable improvements against Te Kāhui Hauora's Community Health Plan and the experiences of whānau as captured through the annual Whānau Voice survey.
Ngā āhuatanga | About you
- Current registration and Annual Practising Certificate in an appropriate health profession.
- Extensive experience working within the New Zealand health system.
- Demonstrated clinical leadership and experience leading or contributing to quality improvement or service redesign initiatives.
- Strong understanding of health pathways across primary, community, hospital, and kaupapa Māori health services.
- Experience working collaboratively with Māori communities and kaupapa Māori organisations.
- Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application within health.
- Knowledge of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and the role of Iwi Māori Partnership Boards is desirable.
- Able to translate complex clinical issues into practical advice and action.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Committed to kaupapa Māori, equity, and continuous improvement.
If this sounds like you, please email a cover letter and your CV to Pouwhakahaere Kim Ngawhika at [email protected] by Friday, July 25, 2026.
Whānau Voice Lead
Whānau Voice Lead
Whakatū, preferred – but negotiable
Fixed term: Now – July 31, 2027
Te Kāhui Hauora o Te Tauihu IMPB is on the lookout for a Whānau Voice Lead to support our Whānau Voice programme and ensure the lived experiences, aspirations, and voices of whānau remain central to the organisation's planning, monitoring, and improvement activities.
Working closely with iwi, marae, hauora providers, and community partners, the Whānau Voice Lead co-ordinates the ongoing delivery of the Whānau Voice programme, including engagement, survey implementation, thematic analysis, reporting, communications, and monitoring.
As well as working to develop and maintain trusted relationships with iwi, hapū, marae, hauora providers, and whānau, the Whānau Voice lead will:
- Actively participate in the collection of Whānau Voice through surveys, interviews, hui, case studies, community events, and engagement activities across Te Tauihu.
- Co-ordinate commissioning arrangements with iwi and community partners where appropriate.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships that encourage meaningful participation from whānau.
- Maintain high standards of data quality, confidentiality, cultural safety, and integrity.
- Support iwi-led approaches to gathering Whānau Voice.
- Maintain visibility within communities by regularly participating in iwi, marae, provider, and community events.
- Prepare reports, summaries, presentations, dashboards, and briefing material.
- Identify emerging themes, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
We are looking for someone who:
- Holds a relevant tertiary qualification in public health, research, community development, Māori development, social sciences, or a related discipline.
- Has experience co-ordinating research, surveys, or community engagement programmes.
- Has experience collecting, organising, and analysing qualitative and quantitative information.
- Has experience working with iwi, marae, kaupapa Māori organisations, and Māori communities.
- Holds a strong understanding of kaupapa Māori approaches to engagement.
- Experience preparing reports, presentations, and communicating complex information clearly.
- Knowledge of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and the role of Iwi Māori Partnership Boards is desirable.
- Displays strong interpersonal skills.
- Holds deep respect for whānau stories and lived experience.
- Culturally grounded, empathetic, and collaborative.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Passionate about improving hauora Māori outcomes.
- Committed to continuous learning and improvement.
If this sounds like you, please email a cover letter and your CV to Pouwhakahaere Kim Ngawhika at [email protected] by Friday, July 25, 2026.
Ngā Ara Hauora o Te Whānau o Te Tauihu
Across Te Tauihu o te Waka-a-Māui, Māori experience persistent health inequities rooted in the
structural legacies of colonisation. This life course snapshot illustrates the cumulative impacts across key stages of life and identifies opportunities for meaningful change.
Stay protected against pertussis
Pertussis (whooping cough) is an illness we need to protect against. It is highly contagious and can cause serious harm to pēpi and older adults. A pertussis epidemic, which was declared in November 2024, is ongoing in Aotearoa New Zealand with significant numbers of people continuing to be affected across the motu.
Antenatal immunisations are free and are recommended from 16 weeks of every pregnancy. Pertussis boosters are also given at 11 years, 45 years (if fewer than four tetanus doses previously), and 65 years in addition to the routine childhood immunisation schedule.
Immunisation is available from your GP, Hauora Māori service, by many midwives, or at most vaccinating pharmacies.
Health funding warning
Kaitiaki Hauora released new economic analysis ahead of Budget 2026, warning New Zealand’s public healthcare system remains significantly underfunded, with planned increases in health spending unlikely to meaningfully improve access to care. The analysis found New Zealand spends around $1.1 billion less per year on health than comparable OECD countries with similar public healthcare systems.
The Government announced $1.370 billion in additional health funding for the coming year in Budget 2026, equivalent to $5.48 billion over four years. However, the report shows much of that increase is likely to be absorbed by rising costs, population growth and demographic pressures.
A pre-Budget Cabinet paper also indicated new and expanded services are expected to be funded from within that same allocation. According to Kaitiaki Hauora, that means many existing services are likely to remain under pressure, with current challenges across the health system expected to continue or intensify.
Future of work
Manu Ora will join the Marlborough PHO, Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough, and Churchill Hospital at Future of Work 2026 this week in Blenheim to support local rangatahi to explore pathways into health.
“We see this as a very important opportunity to awhi young people as they consider their futures, help them connect with health professionals, and imagine the positive impact they can have for whānau and hapori,” said Dr Sara Simmons, Mātanga Rata at Manu Ora.
“We’ve been involved in Future of Work since it began in 2019, and this mahi has already paid dividends, with local young people who hadn’t otherwise considered careers in health succeeding in their studies and joining the workforce.” Please share the word and encourage whānau to attend Future of Work, especially the “Whānau Session” being held from 3pm to 6pm on Wednesday, June 10 at the Marlborough Events Centre.
Proposed Pharmac changes risk deepening inequity
Te Kāhui Hauora IMPB is pushing back on Pharmac’s proposal to remove priority access to type 2 diabetes meds for Māori and Pacific peoples.
Pharmac is proposing to widen access to three type 2 diabetes medicines from August, and we applaud that, but in the process, the criteria that enable access to Māori and Pacific people are to be removed.
Equity mechanisms within the health system did not emerge by accident. They have been developed in response to longstanding evidence that equal treatment within an unequal system was not delivering equitable outcomes for Māori.
Targeted access to SGLT2 inhibitors has demonstrated significant reductions in mortality risk for Māori and Pacific peoples, while earlier treatment may delay progression to dialysis by up to 15 years. This is not preferential treatment. This is clinically justified and potentially life-saving intervention.
The initial two-week consultation period on the proposal has now been extended to Thursday, June 11, 2026. You can have your say here.