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

Mahitahi Hauora director of nursing Rhoena Davis has received the prestigious Te Akenehi Hei Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to Māori health. The award, made by Te Rūnanga o Aotearoa, NZ Nurses Organisation, is named after the first Māori to qualify as a nurse, in 1908.

It recognises rangatiratanga/leadership; whanaunga­tanga: ability to connect with others; kaitiakitanga: provision of guidance; and kotahitanga: ability to promote unity and collaboration. Ms Davis is acting chair of Hauora Taiwhenua and co-chair of the College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ).

Jenny Carryer CNZM, Massey University professor of nursing and College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) executive director, has joined the board of the Federation of Primary Health Aotearoa New Zealand. Dr Carryer co-chairs the National Nurse Leaders Group and serves on Third Age Health’s clinical advisory board as well as the Journal of Primary Health Care editorial board.

She says she is committed “to the need to see increased visibility and greater communication and collaboration between all organisations and groups who contrib­ute to community-based health services”.

Amanda Malu is leaving Whānau Āwhina Plunket after eight years, six of those as chief executive, to start on 26 September as ACC’s deputy chief executive service delivery.

Ms Malu acknowledges, in a statement, leading Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s strategy to become a pro-equity organisation focused on playing its role in addressing health system inequities.

She represents Whānau Āwhina Plunket on the Federation of Primary Health. After 26 September, it will be represented by chief nurse Zoë Tipa.

Peter Townsend will depart Pegasus Health (Charitable) Ltd in December, after four years as chair and 15 as a director.

Another experienced Canterbury director, Barry Bragg, is the chair designate who will take Mr Townsend’s place.

Mr Bragg (Ngāi Tahu) was for almost six years a Government appointee to the board of Canterbury DHB, now Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury.

A former chair of Ngāi Tahu Property Ltd, he holds numerous directorships of commercial enterprises.

Canterbury Clinical Network primary care liaison Rosie Laing has begun six months’ leave to work as clinical lead of the Hauora Hub.

The hub coordi­nates unenrolled individuals to connect with a community health provider and provides care and support where needed. The focus has been on COVID-19 cases, but Dr Laing says the hub is engaging more widely with unenrolled people, helping them towards a healthier life and a func­tional connection with healthcare providers.

Dr Laing, a specialist GP, remains the network’s clinical lead for shared care plans.