129.037 Mahitahi Hauora Annual Report 2023-24 v8 - Low Res Spreads - Flipbook - Page 8
Mahitahi Hauora Annual Report - 2023/2024
He Aumihi Nā
Te Heamana
Message from our Chair
As an organisation, we have already
adapted to new processes and
systems following the introduction
of Pae Ora (Healthy Futures). We
recognise that with the change in
government, and restructures at
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu
Ora are made, we must prepare to
adjust once again.
Year after year our
partner general practices
face funding and
workforce challenges,
and this continues
to affect the health
outcomes of whānau in
Tai Tokerau.
A recent estimate suggests half of
the general practices in Aotearoa
have closed their books1, meaning
many vulnerable people cannot
easily access care close to
home. In Northland, the number
is closer to 60%. A signi昀椀cant
proportion of our population
lives in rural areas and so those
who cannot enrol with a local
general practice face the prospect
of travelling long distances to
receive care. Patients are often
having to wait for appointments,
present to ED, or are not receiving
care at all. The primary healthcare
system is under serious strain,
and I want to acknowledge our
colleagues in general practice and
our kaimahi at the Hauora Māori
providers who are working to the
point of burnout with the limited
resources afforded to them.
1
With change comes opportunities,
and it is the Board’s intention
to be disruptive and deliberate
in our efforts to champion the
voice of whānau in Tai Tokerau,
realising every opportunity
afforded to us to advocate on
their behalf. We are united in
our belief that we must be bold
in our efforts to collaborate
with other organisations to
provide whānau-centred care
and to influence funders and
policymakers towards equitable
health outcomes. I thank my
fellow Board members for
their proactive leadership and
decision-making, and their
willingness to act, especially in
this space.
At our 2023 Annual General
Meeting I, along with fellow
trustees Errol Murray, Lynette
Stewart and Marihi Langford,
received reappointment for
another term, enabling Mahitahi
Hauora to maintain its expertise
and experience with broad
representation across the region.
approaching changes. This is an
achievement we can be proud
of, especially as this journey was
made without compromising our
principles or priorities. I would
like to thank the Mahitahi Hauora
Leadership Team for their mahi
towards this end.
I would like to acknowledge Te
Taumata Hauora o Te Kahu o
Taonui Iwi Māori Partnership
Board and their understanding
of the barriers experienced
by communities in our region.
IMPBs have an important role
in determining health care
services for whānau in our
region and we look forward to
continuing our strong working
relationship as they progress their
commissioning capacity in the
year ahead.
Finally, I thank the Mahitahi
Hauora team who get the job
done every day, showing great
dedication and commitment to
our shared goal of improving
the health and wellbeing of our
communities and supporting our
kaimahi in primary health care.
Ngā mihi,
Geoff Milner
Chair
We ended our 昀椀nancial year
in a position of stability and
I, along with my fellow Board
members, am con昀椀dent that this
is sustainable. As an organisation,
we are now poised to face the
July 2024 Media Release from General Practice Owners Association (GenPro) ‘Fall in primary care enrolments highlights
pressures on general practice.’
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