Taonga presented to health partner

Ngati Hine Health Trust chairwoman Gwen Tepania-Palmer handing over the taonga gift to Northland DHB chairman Anthony Norman. Photo / Supplied

The partnership between Northland District Health Board and the Ngati Hine Health Trust has been recognised with the presentation of a taonga carving.

At a recent board meeting Ngati Hine Health Trust chairwoman Gwen Tepania-Palmer presented Northland DHB board chairman Anthony Norman with a taonga to acknowledge what is more than just a partnership.

"This taonga represents the mutual integrity of our relationship, which we trust will last as long," said Ms Tepania-Palmer of the ceremonial patu (hand held club) carved from 40,000 year old swamp kauri.

"We endorse the historic leadership of people such as Rob Cooper (former Ngati Hine Health Trust chief executive) and awhi the leaders who are making this future possible."

The health and wellbeing of the Mid North community is at the heart of the partnership between Ngati Hine Health Trust and Northland DHB, with a common vision to improve access, provide a more integrated, efficient, high quality service working in close partnership to deliver the best possible care.

The partnership will enhance individual and whanau experiences, with co-location reducing travel time and coordination of services ensuring that that patients and consumers see the right people at the right time.

"This is also far more than just co-location of healthcare providers. There is a drive and focus on delivering a high level of care, based on promotion of health excellence and prevention of ill health," said Mr Norman.

Changes include three general practices coming together to operate as one, the DHB building a new accident and medical department, new renal unit and refurbishing other areas of the Bay of Islands hospital.

Ngati Hine Health Trust is funding construction of a whanau wellness centre - Te Hauora O PukePuke Rau (a healthy chief/whanau on every hill).

The plans for the hospital revamp will see refurbishment of the kitchen and laboratory, a new accident and medical department, which will also provide facilities for GPs to provide after-hours services.The accident and medical department will provide the interface to Te Hauora O PukePuke Rau with a single triage point to serve the whanau wellness centre and hospital. Other services on site will include community and specialist nurses, health promotion kaimahi (worker), and physiotherapists. Refurbishment and construction will be completed by November 2016.