Registered Charitable Trust
In 1993 the Hokianga community came together as one in a successful campaign to preserve the special qualities of the then Hokianga Health Service to ensure there would be no detrimental effect on the health of the Hokianga people. The Hokianga community held on to its values, the Hokianga health services, free at point of need and autonomy in the way that the community was used to through forming a charitable community trust and contracting to provide the service. Hokianga made history in July 1993 when the Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust became one of the first in the country to run its own health services. On the 1st July 2023 the Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust celebrated 30 years since the signing of the Heads of Agreement giving the people of Hokianga ownership of their health.
As your appointed representatives, Trustees have the responsibility to ensure the legacy created by the original signatories of the Heads of Agreement, the founding trustees and the many former and current trustees and staff of Hauora Hokianga lives on. To ensure that our health service is in a position to continue to strive for equity and no cost at point of care the Trust has embarked on a new strategic direction with planning in place that will consider the health and disability sector reforms, the establishment of the Te Aka Whai Ora (Maori Health Authority), Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand), locality development and the Iwi Partnership Boards. Whilst the Trust’s Deed, rules and Terms of Reference have served us well for the past 30 years they are now in urgent need of a refresh, to modernise and bring them up to date and to ensure they are fit for purpose in the face of the considerable change taking place within the wider health sector at this present time.
The Hokianga Health Enterprise Trust is proud to belong to the people of Hokianga. It is your trust, and it is vital that you have your say in how we move forward into the future. As such we will be providing regular written updates, we will be holding a number of community meetings (hui) throughout this process for all of the clinic areas so that you can have an opportunity to ask questions and have your say, and we will also be organising surveys in which you can also have your say and provide suggestions on any proposed changes. If you have any questions, or wish to make any comments you are encouraged to email the Trust at HHET@hokiangahealth.org.nz
Currently the governing committee of the Trust comprises the following members:
- 20 members elected by the community (two members from each of the ten clinic areas). Members are elected for a two-year term at the annual meetings held in each clinic community.
- Up to four Iwi representatives. Two each representing Te Runanga a Iwi o Ngapuhi and Te Runanga o Te Rarawa.
- Two staff representatives elected by the staff for a three term.
- Up to four additional members can be co-opted by the Trust to address ethnic, geographic imbalance or to add further skills and knowledge the Trust.
See the proposed Trust Deed here.
Annual Report 2021/22
Our Annual Report for 2021/22 is available here for downloading to interested individuals and groups, researchers, funders and stakeholders. The report provides a comprehensive introduction to the Trust, its objectives and operations, as well as the detailed outcomes and performance for the year.
Current Members
The Chairperson of the Trust Kathrine Clarke lives in Omapere. Kathrine is a current Director of Manea Footprints of Kupe Ltd and a trustee of Te Hua o te Kawariki Trust. Kathrine has worked in health for several years and in 2014 was the recipient of the Māori Public Health Award, from the NZ Public Health Association. Kathrine is currently the Director of Health Promotion with the National Public Health Service, Te Whatu Ora
The Deputy Chairperson is David Mules from Panguru. After initial training as a civil engineer (and stints working as a hospital orderly), David worked as a teacher and principal for many years in rural community schools including Panguru and Broadwood. More recently his passion for te taiao led him into conservation work in Te Wai Pounamu and then back here to TeTai Tokerau, where he helped develop the Reconnecting Northland programme as its foundation manager. His focus on community development and wellbeing led David to his current role with Hauora Hokianga. On free days David and his wife Diana Guest and whanau can be found working on a large-scale restoration planting project near their home at Motukauri.
The current members and the communities that they represent are:
- Patricia Irvine – Broadwood
- Peter McCraith – Broadwood
- Jocelyn King – Horeke
- Charlie Nathan – Horeke
- Darlene Wyles – Kohukohu
- Vacant – Kohukohu
- Ngawai Tuson – Mangamuka
- Christina Miekle – Mangamuka
- Gayle Sinclair – Omapere
- Katherine Clarke – Omapere
- David Mules – Panguru
- Tania Paikea – Panguru
- Liz Warr – Pawarenga
- Kohinemateora Matiu – Pawarenga
- Jessie McVeagh – Rawene
- Lis Bowker – Rawene
- Dawn Waru – Taheke
- Ada Brown – Taheke
- Pettania Hohaia – Waimamaku
- Hiku Cherrington – Waimamaku
- Helene Leaf – Te Runanga A Iwi o Ngapuhi
- Linda Pikari – Te Runanga A Iwi o Ngapuhi
- Desire’e Andrews – Te Runanga o Te Rarawa
- Jane Clabrough – Staff
Tirohanga Matua – Vision
“Whānau Oranga – kia eke raw ate taumata manaaki tangata, manaaki whanau, manaaki kainga” achieved through collaboration and service excellence
Māori Health Provider
The Trust’s health services are distinguished by the kaupapa of its model of care which is distinctively and uniquely Hokianga, Māori and community focussed.
Hauora Hokianga is acknowledged by the Ministry of Health and Northland District Health Board as being a Māori Health Provider. The Trust is an organisation owned and governed by Māori (but not exclusively Māori), that provides contracted health and disability services to a Māori (but not exclusively Māori) community.
16 of the board’s current 23 members have Māori descent (70%). The Trust’s rules require a greater than 50% Māori governorship at all times.
The Trust Meets Monthly
The Trust holds its monthly board meeting, usually on the last Tuesday of the month, starting at 9.30 am, at Whare Matauranga, Rawene Hospital. The meeting is open for community and public to attend.
The board first considers its strategic and forward planning issues before receiving reports from the CEO and Trust committees that have met during the month. A financial report and regular updates on risks and performance against planning objectives are also received.