REFORM SHORTS: A ‘guidebook of sorts’ for locality formation

“The aim is to create a tried and tested framework”

A guide to the new health system’s localities is under development but has morphed slightly in the way it’s being discussed.

Te Whatu Ora chair Rob Campbell in November said production of a “localities guidebook” was imminent, to provide consistency in what each locality covers, who’s involved, how they conduct themselves and how they report.

The first 12 localities – of potentially 80 nationwide – had at that time varied widely in their types of membership and organisation.

New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa recently asked whether the guidebook has been published.

By email, national localities co-directors Diane Koti (Te Aka Whai Ora) and Kylie Ormrod (Te Whatu Ora) say: “The aim is to create a tried and tested framework, which could be considered a guidebook of sorts, to give future localities some direction with how to tackle the big task of collaboratively coming up with a fit-for-purpose plan that will work for that community. This is still a work in progress.”

General practices nationwide will need to know how to engage with their locality. The concept is covered in the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, which makes it Te Whatu Ora’s job to develop each locality plan, following wide consultation.

Each plan is “made” when it is agreed to by Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora and the relevant iwi-Māori partnership board or boards.

The 12 localities are at various stages of creating, submitting and finalising their draft plans on how they envision future health and wellbeing services.