Role Call - People on the move and gaining recognition in the health sector

Emma Rawson-Te Patu (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Raukawa, Ngāti Hauā) is the newly elected vice-president of the World Federation of Public Health Associations and is the first indigenous woman in the role.

Ms Rawson-Te Patu will become president in two years’ time. She has been vice-chair of the federation’s indigenous working group and a member of the Public Health Association and its Māori caucus.

In a media release, Ms Rawson TePatu says she expects to draw from what Aotearoa has to offer “energising what can be done here”.

The office of the Health and Disability Commissioner has a new kaitohu matamua Māori/director Māori. Ikimoke Tamaki-Takarei (Waikato, Tainui) started in the role last month. Mr Tamaki-Takarei is deputy chair of iwi governance group Te Whakaitenga o Waikato and cultural advisor to Waikato DHB. “It’s vital that people who experience poor outcomes in the health and disability system understand their consumer rights and their right to request feedback through the HDC complaints process,” he says in a media release.

Craig Watson (pictured with daughter Ella) is the new kaiwhakahaere pākihi hauora/business manager at Ashburton’s Three Rivers Health medical practice where, he says, the values include putting family first. Mr Watson was business manager at rural Canterbury PHO Waitaha Primary Health and, more recently, team leader – practice relationships for Pegasus Health. He started at Pegasus in March 2020. Mr Watson originally trained in medical radiation technology and has served as a Selwyn district councillor.

At the Auckland region’s largest PHO, ProCare, Brett Butler is to take up the new role of general manager health services from 20 June. Mr Butler joined Southern Cross Health Society in 2015, to work in insurance and, in October 2020, was made value stream lead – business. At ProCare, he will be a member of the executive leadership team. A materials science graduate, he is a former group manager of commercial networks at energy distributor Vector.

ProCare has appointed four more members to its youth advisory group. In a media release, new member Skyler Anderson (16) says she’s enthusiastic about youth health issues and aims to collaborate with like-minded individuals to improve New Zealand’s mental health care system.

Group members provide insight into how young people think and feel about life in New Zealand, with a particular focus on how they like to interact with primary care and mental health services.

Other new members are Ayush Singh, Depali Lamba and Leila Belt.