Message from the Director's desk

We are already a quarter of the way into the year and while time has flown by, we have achieved a great deal in these first three months.

On Wednesday 2 April the Māori Health and Consumer team were gifted our name Te Pūkāea Matatika. It represents the group that leads through support to advance and to be challenging of the work Te Tāhū Hauora undertakes; in both the Māori and Consumer spaces to ensure our enduring priorities are met. Read on for more information about the meaning behind Te Pūkāea Matatika.

We are excited to make a save the date announcement for our Consumer forum for 30 October which will be held at Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre:

'Our voices. Our healing. Our future 

Ko ngā reo. Ko ngā rongoā. Ko ngā mokopuna'. 

We have some great keynote speakers lined up and are well into planning the event. Details on registrations will be available in due course.

I want to acknowledge the departure of our Chief Executive, Dr Peter Jansen, due to ill health. Peter has given so much to Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality and Safety Commission in his pursuit of health quality, equity, and safety for all of Aotearoa.

He held a deep conviction in holding firm to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the need for a health system that serves everyone, especially those who have been left behind.

He toki, he taura whiri, he toa rangatira
(A leader of great strength, woven with wisdom and courage).

And now the search for a new leader has begun.

I am delighted to announce two new staff members in the Māori Health and Consumer team. Jahminique Chivers has joined us as data governance lead, and Penita Davies as an advisor across the work of the team.

From next week I will be working as a doctor at Hastings hospital for six months to assist over the winter period. In my absence, Kelly Palmer will be the acting director. Kelly comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience in Health and the public sector and we are very lucky to have him with us for a short time. I will still be across our work programme.

I hope most of you are able to have a break over the upcoming Easter and ANZAC day holidays.

Carlton Irving

Director of Māori Health and Consumer

L-R backrow: DJ Adams, Dez McCormack, Kelly Palmer, Jim Wiki. L-R front row: Jahminique Chivers, Hariata Bell, Carlton Irving.

Te Pūkāea Matatika - the meaning behind our name

Pūkāea

The pūkāea is a trumpet from taonga puoro collection. Traditionally pūkāea are used to alert the approach of ope (visiting groups) and to open pathways.  Pūkāea have a booming sound that is welcoming but also challenging.

A deeper look at the word it can be interpreted as:
Pū – to blow gently 
Kaea – to lead
In this context pūkāea can also mean to lead through support.

Matatika

The word Matatika means to be straight, ethical, fair, equitable, honest, impartial, unbiased.  

Again, a deeper look at the word it can be interpreted as:
Mata – face or eye
Tika - to be correct, true, upright, right, just, fair
In this context matatika can also mean to be just, true and fair.

Ngā Reo Māhuri | Young Voices Advisory Group welcomes new member
 

At the end of 2024 Te Tāhū Hauora promoted a consumer opportunity and invited expressions of interest for one vacancy on Ngā Reo Māhuri | Young Voices Advisory Group.

On Thursday 13 March a mihi whakatau was held for Jack Ruddenklau to settle them in as a new member supporting consumer and whānau engagement at Te Tāhū Hauora.

Ngā Reo Māhuri represent the young voices of diverse communities and lived experiences of people across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Save the date 

On October 30, we will be hosting the Ō Mātou Reo: Our Voices 2025 event. The theme is Ko ngā reo. Ko ngā rongoā. Ko ngā mokopuna. Our voices. Our healing. Our future. 

The goals of the event are to:

• learn about how we can involve consumers and whānau in decision-making for better health outcomes
• create opportunities for consumers and whānau to engage with health providers and the sector
• highlight best practice and the Consumer Code of Expectations.

More info to come. For now, please save 30 October in your calendar!

Consumer advisory profile - Mary Schnakenberg

Mary Schnakenberg is a long-term member of both Te Kāhui Mahi Ngātahi | Consumer Advisory Group and Kōtuinga Kiritaki | Consumer network at Te Tāhū Hauora.

Mary has an extensive relationship with the disability community, specifically with blind/vision impaired people.

She has served in leading roles with the likes of Blind Citizens NZ; The Braille Authority of New Zealand Aotearoa Trust; Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health, Disability Directorate, Consumer Consortium; the Office of the Ombudsman; and PHARMAC Consumer Advisory Committee.

Mary has a human rights background and is increasingly conscious of inequities across New Zealand society. She enjoys the challenging role of being a consumer advisor, having to think about a wide range of issues and consider many perspectives.

As Mary completes her term on our consumer groups soon, she says “I have enjoyed the privilege of serving in advisory teams that influence the development of a better health and disability experience”.

We wish Mary all the very best for the future and thank her for all her advice and support.   

Watch these videos to see examples of the work Mary has done for us.

Have your say on health workforce regulation 

From Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health:

The Government is reviewing health workforce regulation to help make sure all New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare. 

Consumers of health services are invited to have their say in helping to improve health workforce regulation. 

The health workforce is our health system’s greatest asset, playing a vital role in improving the health outcomes of New Zealanders. However, the country is facing challenges, including shortages across a range of professions, and growing demand from an ageing population with more complex needs. 

To meet our future needs, we must look at ways of doing things differently.

Better regulation that is responsive, puts patients first, and maximises the potential of our health workforce can help us to address these challenges. 

As part of the review, a discussion document has been developed which outlines how workforce regulation could be improved and what this would mean for patients. 

The Government wants to hear your views on: 

• Patient-centred regulation: shorter wait times, better outcomes, and a system that truly puts patients first.
• Streamlined regulation: using resources and administering the rules in the most cost-effective way possible, ensuring value for money for taxpayers and better outcomes for patients. 
• Right-sized regulation: the level of regulation should depend on the level of risk to public safety involved.
• Future-proofed regulation: modernised and adaptive regulation that ensures patients receive the care they need while supporting the workforce to respond to the needs of all New Zealanders. 

Read the discussion document and one-page summary on the Ministry of Health website.

Making your submission 

The consultation is open until 11.59 pm Wednesday 30 April 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact workforceregulation@health.govt.nz
 

Your suggestions on how to improve our Consumer health Forum Aotearoa?

We would like your feedback about how we can improve your experience of the forum. Please complete the online form below to share your thoughts.

Consumer opportunities | Tā te kiritaki whai wāhi

The following opportunities are available for your contribution to the improvement of the health system:

• Te Tāhū Hauora:
  • Te Kāhui Mahi Ngātahi | Consumer Advisory Group – three vacancies
  • Kōtuinga Kiritaki | Consumer Network – two vacancies
  • Ngā Reo Māhuri | Young Voices Group – one vacancy
• Pacific Member for the Northern Regional Consumer Council – Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand 
• Putting Patients First: Modernising health workforce regulation – public consultation
• Development of Assistant/Associate Psychologists role – Te Poari Kaimātai Hinengaro o Aotearoa | New Zealand Psychology Board survey
• Collaborative Aotearoa Telehealth Patient Voice survey

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