New Zealand has a new health system, with new governing bodies and a new group of people in charge.
Here’s an overview of who will now be in charge of Kiwi health as the reforms come into effect on July 1.
Health New Zealand
fepulea’i Margie Apa (Director)
Apa’s 20-year executive career has included positions with the Ministry of Health as Deputy Director General of Health, Counties Manukau DHB (where she was chief executive officer), Capital and Coast DHB and the Health Funding Authority, among others.
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She has a BCom and started her career with the States Services Commission. Apa is also a voluntary chairman of World Vision New Zealand.
Rob CampbellChairman
Campbell has over 40 years of experience as a professional director, with management experience in trade unions, the public and private sectors.
He trained as an economist and later taught at the Victoria University of Wellington.
He previously served as a director and chairman of SkyCity Entertainment Group, and is currently chairman of the board of the Environmental Protection Authority and is the Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology.
GOODS
As of July 1, New Zealand will have a new health system – Health New Zealand and the Māori Health Authority. Here’s a who’s who of those on the boards. (L-R: Rob Campbell, Tipa Mahuta, Awerangi Tamihere, Karen Poutasi, Mataroria Lyndon and Amy Adams)
Give me doctor Karen Poutasi
Poutasi was Director General of Health from 1995-2006 and is medically qualified, with a specialization in public health.
She was a Medical Superintendent at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland until 1987. She has also served as chief executive of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
She is, among other things, the commissioner of the Waikato District Health Board and chair of the Covid-19 Vaccine Immunization Program Governance Group.
Curtis Walker
Walker, (Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou), is a General Practitioner and Kidney Specialist at Palmerston North Hospital and the current Chairman of the New Zealand Medical Council.
Walker used to be a veterinarian and received medical training. He began working at Waikato Hospital, training in internal medicine and later specialist training in Palmerston North and Wellington.
His career has included board positions in the healthcare sector, including as president of the New Zealand Resident Doctors Association and vice president of the Māori Medical Practitioners Association.
MONIQUE FORD/Things
Margie Apa is the chief executive of Interim Health New Zealand.
Vanessa Stoddart
Originally a commercial lawyer, Stoddart lives in Auckland, has 30 years of leadership and board experience and has held senior positions with Carter Holt Harvey’s Australian Packaging Group and senior executive positions with Air New Zealand.
Stoddart is currently an independent director for Channel Infrastructure NZ Ltd, OneFortyOne Plantations Pty Ltd and a member of the Financial Markets Authority.
Reverend Amy Adams
Adams is a former National Party politician and was the Member of Parliament for Selwyn from 2008 until her retirement in 2020, and served as Cabinet Minister from 2011-17.
Prior to politics, Adams worked as a lawyer and senior partner, specializing in commercial and real estate law.
She is also currently Chancellor of the University of Canterbury.
Maori Health Authority
Riana Manuel (Director)
MONIQUE FORD/Things
Riana Manuel is the chief executive of the Māori Health Authority.
Manuel (Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Kahungunu) is a qualified nurse by profession and has worked in many parts of the health sector.
She was the executive leader of a number of Kaupapa Māori organizations, including the Hauraki Primary Health Organization and Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki.
Tipa Mahuta (Chairman)
Mahuta (Waikato, Maniapoto, Ngāpuhi) has a background in facilitation, research, policy and community development and over 20 years of iwi governance experience.
She is currently the Chair of the Taumata Arowai Māori Advisory Group, Vice Chair of Counties Manukau DHB, a Councilor on the Waikato Regional Council, and Co-Chair of the Waikato River Authority.
Mahuta has served on a wide range of iwi and community boards, including the Iwi Māori Council at the former Waikato DHB and Tainui Group Holdings.
Sharon Sheah
Shea (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Hako) was a board member and chair of the subcommittee in both Auckland and Northland DHBs.
Shea chaired the Māori Expert Advisory Group on the Health and Disability Sector Review.
Her previous roles in health management have included regional and national roles in Māori health strategy, financing, Māori provider and workforce development (as part of government agencies).
Dr Sue Crengle
Delivered
Dr Sue Crengle.
Crengle (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe, Waitaha) specializes in family medicine and public health and has worked as a researcher for over 25 years.
She is a professor at Otago Medical School, where much of her work is identifying how and where health inequalities exist, and testing ways to eliminate them.
Crengle has significant knowledge and experience of the health system, primary care and public health in both a mainstream and kaupapa Māori environment. She lives in Invercargill.
Dr Mataroria Lyndon
Lyndon, (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Wai, Waikato) is a senior lecturer in medical education at the University of Auckland and co-founder and clinical director of Tend Health.
He also co-hosts the TVNZ medical series ‘The Check Up’ and previously served as Māori health medical director at Counties Manukau DHB.
Lyndon is Vice Chairman of Te Hiringa Hauora Health Promotion Agency and a Board Member of the Northland DHB, Active and Healthy Hearts Aotearoa Center of Research Excellence.
Awerangi Tamihier
Tamihere (Ngāti Kauwhata, Rangitane, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakata, Kai Tahu), has senior leadership experience in central government, regional crown entities, the private sector and working with her iwi.
Since 2019, Tamihere has been the chief operating officer for Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust, which provides healthcare, social affairs, justice and education to the entire community in West Auckland.
She is also the Chief Operating Officer of Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency.
Fiona Pim
Pimm (Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) has worked on the front lines of healthcare, starting as a medical radiation technologist and then moving into health management at DHBs, He Oranga Pounamu and Pegasus Medical Group.
She has extensive networks in the health sector (particularly in primary care and Māori health), and currently holds board positions with health, education and staff training organizations, as well as the NZ Parole Board.
Two other board members have yet to be appointed.