On behalf of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua Settlement Trust and Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Trust
Iwi Māori Partnership Board co-chairs appointed for Wairarapa
The announcement of co-chairs to the Te Karu o Te Ika Poari Hauora Iwi Māori Partnership Board is being acknowledged, and celebrated, by two Wairarapa iwi groups.
Andrea Rutene (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Toa) and Piri Te Tau (Rangitāne, Kai Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa) will serve on the Board, which has a formal role in agreeing local priorities with Health New Zealand and ensuring the voice of whānau is heard to ensure they are receiving the quality care they need.
The Iwi Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs) will help shape services to meet the needs of the community at a local level, supporting Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnerships throughout the system.
Piri Te Tau, whose career has been dedicated to supporting whānau, says he is focused on continuing to support families to navigate their hauora journeys.
“As advocates for our Wairarapa whānau, we want to amplify their voices in a meaningful way and ensure the services they access reflect who they are, and what they need – every step of the way.”
Andrea Rutene, who has extensive experience in the health sector, believes having Te Tiriti steer the approach to hauora is important too.
“We want to see innovative services strengthened in our rohe, and in turn, better outcomes being delivered. I am looking forward to working with Piri and the Board, who are just as ambitious about what we can achieve as I am.”
The Board members, announced today, are Kim Smith, Paula Snowden, Selah Hart, Dr Marise Kerehi-Stuart and Yvette Grace. All bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the hauora Māori space, and are Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne and mātāwaka.
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua Settlement Trust and Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Trust are looking forward to working alongside Piri, Andrea, and the Te Karu o Te Ika Poari Hauora Board to ensure the needs of whānau are met and the community they serve is represented.
“This is a pivotal time for the hauora space, and a real opportunity to understand Māori communities, and how to better deliver what they need,” Sonya Rimene, chair of Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Trust, says.
“Andrea, Piri and the board have a lot of mahi to achieve, but we are united in our aspiration to see progress for our people, and we know they’ll take it in their stride to deliver that,” Haami Te Whaiti, chair of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tamaki nui-a-Rua Settlement Trust adds.
Andrea and Piri will begin in their roles, effective immediately. The co-chair roles will be reviewed after one year, while the Board will serve for a term of four years.
