“As well as helping improve outcomes for locals, it shores up Turanga Health’s ability to design, develop and implement programmes and train and retain staff.
“There’s long-term certainty for our employees so they can invest in their own futures.”
Mr Brown said Turanga Health, as an iwi health organisation, wanted to front-foot current wellbeing issues and build their own responses.
“We want to incorporate the breadth of our nimble and agile operations for seamless support across all our services.
“As mainstream health services struggle to meet demand, Turanga Health’s take-it-to-the-people initiatives are the way forward.”
Mr Brown thanked the “strong and purposeful leadership” of the board during the flooding of February and June when “staff were flung into an extraordinary situation where the community needed their help”.
“They took ownership for making significant decisions in real time such as visiting whānau while communications were down and helping with the logistics of getting food, warm clothes and healthcare to people who needed it.”
He acknowledged chief executive Reweti Ropiha for his considerate leadership, commitment to developing personal relationships with stakeholders, care and concern for others, and facilitating cooperation among staff.
“We were all so immensely proud when Reweti was recognised in the 2023 New Year’s Honours list, becoming a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to Māori health.
“He was also recognised at the Gisborne District Council Civic Awards and nominated, with 100 others, for the 2023 Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero Award.”
