Enabling Te Arawa Hauora Data Stories
Enabling autonomy and transparent analysis of Mori health data can assist IMPBs nationally to self-determine priorities and monitor health sector performance for enhancing hauora Mori.
The hauora data stories of Iwi-Māori whānau living in Rotorua can soon be told by Te Arawa.
Te Taura Ora o Waiariki – Te Arawa Iwi Māori Partnership Board (IMPB) and PHO, Rotorua Area Primary Health Services (RAPHS), have signed a data sharing agreement supporting Te Arawa whānau access to Māori health data and collection.
Enabling autonomy and transparent analysis of Māori health data can assist IMPBs nationally to self-determine priorities and monitor health sector performance for enhancing hauora Māori.
Over several months, RAPHS worked in partnership with Te Taura Ora o Waiariki to unravel technical and health system knots that historically prevented secure and specific data sharing. The relationship between RAPHS and Te Taura Ora o Waiariki is enduring. For RAPHS, the agreement reinforces their values of He Ora Whakapiri (Together, we make it better) and the commitment to improve health system outcomes and equity.
'Health data is a taonga, it is whakapapa, holding the genetic journey and experiences of whānau. For RAPHS, the data sharing agreement respects this taonga and is another step toward tino rangatiratanga by enabling data sovereignty for iwi Māori.' – RAPHS CEO, Kirsten Stone
The arrangement empowers Taura Ora o Waiariki to have confidential access to Māori health data that has been compiled and made anonymous. This means personal information such as a person's name, date of birth, or address won't be seen and individuals can't be identified. Data will be retrieved, analysed, and monitored to inform hauora Māori strategy and outcomes.
'Having access to accurate and timely local data is a game changer for Te Taura Ora o Waiariki. Our agreement with RAPHS will help us to identify and advocate for key changes to policy, service provision, and the funding mechanisms needed to improve quality and access to healthcare for Māori. Coupled with what whānau are telling us, we can build a clearer picture of where best to concentrate our efforts – having data means we can work smarter' – Te Taura Ora o Waiariki GM, Aroha Dorset
Background:
Rotorua Area Primary Health Services Limited (RAPHS)
RAPHS is a community based not-for-profit clinical network. We have been committed to improving health and wellbeing in the Rotorua region for over 30 years.
A group of forward-thinking providers in the Rotorua community first established our organisation in 1991. Today, RAPHS is Rotorua's Primary Health Organisation (PHO). As a PHO, we support a range of clinical programmes for our community, and provide business, administrative and technology support for our member providers and partner organisations.
Rotorua Area Primary Health Services (RAPHS) provides health services to the local community through a network of 13 general practice providers in the Lakes District, spanning Rotorua to Mangakino and Murupara. Healthcare teams provide health services to about 71,000 people in the Rotorua city and rural areas.
RAPHS launched whānau-centred wellness hub, Koiora, in 2023 to support the unmet needs of Rotorua's population of underserved and unenrolled. Koiora is based in central Rotorua as a walk-in clinic providing holistic wrap around health care at no or low cost to users, ensuring services are accessible by all members of our community.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
40 minutes ago
- NZ Herald
Canterbury mental health services slammed in new report after patients killed two people
It will be livestreamed from the top of this article. The Section 99 'Inspection into Canterbury – Waitaha Adult Inpatient and Associated Mental Health Services', released today, was ordered to find out whether there were 'systemic issues' with the services. Nine key findings were made. The first was that the region's mental health services were struggling under the weight of 'accumulating legacy impacts' from earthquakes, the Christchurch terror attack, Covid-19, and a 35% prison population increase over the past decade. Elliot Cameron was jailed for life for murdering Faye Phelps in 2024. It was not the first time he faced a murder charge - he shot and killed his brother in 1975 but was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Photo / George Heard / Supplied The events had 'heightened demand for services' and caused long stays for patients due to ongoing impacts on housing, blocking community reintegration and delaying admissions. Critical staffing shortages were the most significant and prevailing issue, the report found, with daily struggles to maintain minimum safe staffing levels across adult inpatient, community, and forensic services. Forensic mental health services faced particular challenges, with concerns over an imbalance in the junior to senior staff ratio that could lead to safety risks. Hillmorton Hospital in Christchurch. Photo / George Heard Bed closures, early discharges, and reduced interventions have followed, causing re-admissions and pressure across the care continuum. Staff morale was described as poor, with reports of burnout, 'a culture of blame' and 'significant disruption to staff learning and development'. Mandatory training and clinical supervision had been cut back, worsening morale and compromising safety. A 'siloed culture and care model' impeded cohesion between disciplines, while the incorporation of te ao Māori remained inadequate, the report found. Another key finding was ineffective governance, with clinical governance described as reactive and focused on 'immediate issues at the expense of longer-term stewardship'. Escalation processes were said to be difficult, and quality and safety data were poorly integrated into frontline teams. Regional leadership had delayed decisions on business cases aimed at fixing staffing and seniority gaps. Recommendations focused on three main areas: governance, care model, and resourcing, with a goal of better co-operation between leadership and service delivery so staff can 'do their best' and plan for the future. They included: Governance must prioritise and focus on forensic mental health service performance by fixing staffing/vacancy issues and putting in place a multidisciplinary model of care. The link between service and regional leadership teams must be stronger with clear processes for making decisions, sharing information, and dealing with problems. Leadership should build a culture based on 'servant leadership' and 'just culture,' which means 'shared accountability' and 'open and honest reporting'. Māori cultural support should be fully part of the service, not an 'add-on', and a senior Māori health leader should support the Māori mental health team and make sure there is a 'collective Māori voice at the leadership table'. It was further recommended that all staff should be involved and valued and make it clear that 'bullying in all forms is unacceptable'. Serious incident reviews also need improvement. Zakariye Hussein murdered Laisa Waka Tunidau in 2022 and was later convicted. Photo / George Heard The decisions around patients getting leave into the community have also been 'significantly improved', Grady said, with independent weekly audits of all leave decisions now taking place. Both Grady and Crawshaw met with Laisa Waka's family yesterday, a meeting Grady said was one of the hardest he's ever experienced. 'They have been through significant trauma and are still trying to understand the events and what happened. 'I am deeply sorry these events have occurred,' he said. Health New Zealand says it is 'committed' to implementing the report's recommendations to try and 'prevent the tragic events of 2022 and 2024 from happening again'. 'We recognise the loss and grief these families have and continue to experience and express our sincere condolences to them,' said Grady. 'We are deeply sorry for the failings in our systems. 'We have reached out to these families to apologise and discuss Dr Crawshaw's report, and will remain in contact, if that is their choice, to update them on progress to implement actions from the report. 'We accept all of Dr Crawshaw's findings and have an action plan in place to implement the recommendations, which focused on the underlying issues related to governance, the care model, and resourcing.' Health NZ National Director, Mental Health and Addictions Service Enhancement Phil Grady (left) and Ministry of Health Director of Mental Health Dr John Crawshaw. Photo / George Heard Grady said Health NZ is focused on giving senior leadership oversight of planning for the service, building a framework, and 'ensuring there is sufficient staff with the right level of training and experience to safely and effectively deliver services'. As noted in the report, Health NZ said there has been 'demonstrable progress' on key recommendations, including establishing a clinical governance framework and increasing clinical staffing by 11% since 2022. Clinical decision-making on patient leave is now consistent with policies, Grady said, and there are weekly audits of compliance in place. 'There are clear pathways both within the service and nationally within Health NZ to escalate and manage risk,' he said. 'To ensure progress of the recommendations continue, we welcome Dr Crawshaw's increased oversight of the service over the next 12 months. 'We are committed to improving the service and our actions will be closely measured against this report, and two other event reviews conducted by Health NZ.'
Scoop
40 minutes ago
- Scoop
Bowel Cancer NZ Meets With Health Minister To Push For Screening From Age 45 & Post-Treatment Exercise Programme
Press Release – Bowel Cancer New Zealand Bowel Cancer New Zealand met with Hon Simeon Brown last week to push for two life saving measures: lowering the national bowel screening age and introducing a supported exercise programme after chemotherapy The meeting was constructive, with the Minister outlining work taken in response to the charity's screening proposals put to him in February. Work is now underway on both measures – but screening timelines remain unclear. A further meeting later this year was agreed. Work on screening age progressing – but no plan yet Bowel Cancer NZ reiterated its costed proposals, first presented to the Minister in February, showing how the Government can deliver on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's 2023 pledge to match Australia's screening age of 45. The plans are achievable, affordable, and reinstate earlier screening for Māori and Pacific peoples – groups with worse survival rates under the current one-size-fits-all approach. The Minister confirmed that improvements in investigations for people with symptoms are rolling out from this month – a key enabler for lowering the screening age. He acknowledged that moving to 58 is only a step on the journey, describing it as 'a step, but it's not enough' – signalling the Government recognises the need to go further. Bowel Cancer NZ Chief Executive Peter Huskinson said: 'It's encouraging that our proposals are being taken seriously – but we need solid timelines. Every month that goes by, more than 50 Kiwis in the age group that can access screening in Australia are diagnosed with bowel cancer.' The minister stated that modelling to inform next steps is not expected until late 2025 or early 2026, leaving little time to implement changes before the next election. Under BCNZ's proposals, screening from 45 could be implemented swiftly, with earlier eligibility for Māori and Pacific peoples reinstated. Without this, stark inequities remain, with many people developing bowel cancer before reaching the current starting age of 60. Ball rolling on major survival gains through exercise after chemotherapy Bowel Cancer NZ also presented evidence from the landmark CHALLENGE trial, which shows that a structured behaviour change and exercise programme after chemotherapy increases eight-year survival rates by 7% for Stage 2 and Stage 3 patients – saving more than 50 lives each year in New Zealand. 'This is one of the biggest survival gains we've seen in years,' said Huskinson. 'It's highly effective, highly affordable, and could be rolled out nationwide within 12 months. We want to see the Government champion this and make it standard care.' The Minister responded positively, asking officials to provide further advice and inviting BCNZ to meet with the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand to discuss modelling and next steps. Next steps The meeting ended with a commitment to meet again. 'Many New Zealanders are frustrated and rightly want faster action. We share those concerns and will keep pressing the case for change,' said Huskinson. 'Kiwis facing the impact of bowel cancer don't have time to wait. Every month matters, and we'll keep advocating until these life-saving measures are delivered.' Bowel Cancer NZ will continue working to ensure all New Zealanders benefit from timely equitable screening, high quality treatment, and innovative post-treatment care – to work towards a future where no life is lost to this disease. More information on bowel cancer and the Bowel Cancer New Zealand charity can be found at
Scoop
4 hours ago
- Scoop
Dental Advocacy Group Launches Nationwide Roadshow To Overhaul How We Treat Teeth
The dental advocacy group Dental for All today launches a nationwide roadshow to call for an overhaul of our approach to treating teeth. Dental for All - backed by a coalition of dentists and oral health workers, trade unions, and poverty action groups - is pressing for free, universal dental care, delivered consistently with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The roadshow, beginning in Wellington and Porirua, will see at least 25 events hosted across the country, from Whangārei (and further north) to Invercargill. The first leg of the roadshow between Wellington and Rotorua includes town hall-type meetings in Porirua, Wellington, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Hamilton, and Rotorua. This first leg will see visits to universities, and events in other venues, such as schools and community markets. The second and third legs will also include free dental days. 'This is about the step-change we need in how we treat oral health in this country,' says Hana Pilkinton-Ching, Dental for All campaigner and roadshow organiser. The 2022-2023 New Zealand Health Survey found that nearly half of adults (44%) experienced unmet need for dental care due to cost in the past 12 months. 'It makes no sense that we carve our teeth out from the rest of our body, and it's costing all of us, in lost productivity, downstream health effects, and reduced quality of life,' adds Pilkinton-Ching. Research previously commissioned by Dental for All, produced by FrankAdvice using a Treasury tool, found that excluding dental from the public healthcare system is costing the country $2.5bn in lost productivity and $3.1 billion in reduced quality of life. The cost of free dental for all has been estimated at $1.5bn annually. 'In my clinical work, I see how untreated oral health problems can worsen into serious health problems, and can lead to a loss of self-esteem and confidence, which affects how well people can participate in society,' says Samuel Carrington, an oral health therapist and academic, who is a member of the Dental for All coalition. Dental for All has also produced qualitative research documenting experiences within the oral healthcare system, showing the limitations of existing available dental care for adults, such as the means-tested $1000 Work & Income grant for essential treatment. 'It's time to treat our teeth how we treat the rest of our essential healthcare, and to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi in how we do it,' says Carrington. Dental for All is seeking to establish local organising groups to build nationwide pressure for Dental for All. Polling has previously showed more than 7 out of 10 people in New Zealand support making dental free. Dental for All also continues to develop policy work that will be released in early 2026 on Dental for All models. One viable model is to establish an adult community dental service, made up of a network of community clinics with salaried dentists and oral health therapists, alongside Māori-led clinics (such as through iwi and hapū). The roadshow begins with an event with older New Zealanders in Wellington at lunchtime on Monday 11 August, followed by an oral health promotion afternoon event in Porirua and a panel discussion at Tireti Hall at 5.30pm on Monday 11th. An event follows at Te Tai Ohinga, 203 Willis St, at 6pm on Tuesday 12 August. Notes: The first leg of the roadshow begins in Wellington on Monday 11 August and concludes in Rotorua on Tuesday 19 August. The roadshow will also make visits to Palmerston North, Whanganui, New Plymouth, Hamilton, and Rotorua. The second leg of the roadshow begins in Auckland on Sunday 7 September, including a flagship event with Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson on Thursday 11 September. It ends in Flaxmere on Tuesday 16 September. The third leg of the roadshow begins in Wānaka on Saturday 27 September and moves across the South Island, finishing in Nelson on Sunday 5 October. The Dental for All coalition is led by ActionStation campaigners, and includes the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, Auckland Action Against Poverty, dentist Hugh Trengrove, Workers First Union, Te Ao Mārama (the Māori Dental Association), Downtown Community Ministry, and the Auckland City Mission.
