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Public Health Association of New Zealand

Leadership strong in Public Health Advocacy Group

Photo: Kaumatua Pita Pou, Lee Tuki, Hineira Hamiora and Francis Kewene

The Public Health Association of New Zealand (PHA) celebrates the leadership capital within its membership this week as it farewells outgoing President Lee Tuki and welcomes new President Dr Fran McGrath from 1 November 2019.

Lee Tuki has served a two year term as President during a time when the PHA had a complete change of staff at national office level. She has been responsible for updating the organisation’s governance policies, introducing an annual te Tirit o Waitangi workshop for governance training and has been a champion of the PHA’s values.

“Thank you PHA for the amazing ROLLERCOASTER ride, I will be forever grateful for those who have left and gave generously of their time.  Together we made a magnificent difference paving the way for an exciting future” Ms. Tuki said. “He iti hau marangai, e tū pāhokahoka – a little storm, but then a rainbow appears.  We leave a solid foundation for a completely new Executive to continue PHA’s collective vision of equity for all.”

Dr Fran McGrath has previously served two terms as President of the PHA, and had other governance positions at national and branch level. She started her public health work as a GP, then as a volunteer in rural and low income communities, and has had a distinguished career in the health sector, including service to the World Health Organization on various expert groups and has represented New Zealand several times at the World Health Assembly.

“The PHA has a particular contribution to make alongside our members, in being strongly evidence-based and working with other groups to achieve progress on key public health challenges” Dr McGrath said. “Internally we will focus, with our strength coming too from the large voluntary contribution of branches and caucuses.”

The PHA also welcomes two newly elected Executive Council members, Fran Kewene and Hineira Hamiora, to represent the PHA’s Māori Caucus on Council.

Francis Kewene was nominated by the PHA’s Otago Branch. Her whakapapa is to Waikato, Maniapoto and Britain. She works as a Hauora Māori Professional Practice Fellow in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at the University of Otago in Dunedin. Fran has worked in public health since 2000, first as a health promoter, then health protection officer before her current academic role.

“With fresh eyes I come to this position along with my whānau and communities. I am open to opportunities that arise when you least expect them and am driven by kotahitanga through love and peace. Staying focused is about staying grounded to Papatūānuku, Tangaroa and atua katoa. Equity, social justice and human rights are about having positive relationships and making connections” said Fran of her new role.

Hineira Hamiora was also nominated by the PHA’s Otago Branch, her whakapapa is to Tauranga and Katikati, she is one of the Kuia of the Marae in Te Rereatukahia. With over 30 years’ experience working in the health and education sectors, including governance experience as a board member on the Ngaitamawhariu Runanga Health and Social Services, managing their cultural portfolio. She is currently employed with Bay of Plenty DHB as the Te Pou Kokiri for its CAMHS programme.

“He aha te mea nui o te Ao maku e ki He Tangata he Tangata he Tangata” Hineira said.

PHA’s CEO Dr Stone said members could feel confident the organisation had continuity of strong leadership with Dr McGrath coming on as President.

“The PHA is blessed with active, motivated members, many with governance experience, willing to step forward and volunteer their time. I have been very lucky starting in my role while Lee has been here as President and I look forward to the fresh eyes Fran will bring,” Dr Stone said.

Māori members too, Dr Stone said, could feel certain their representation was strong on Council, with the election of Ms Kewene and Ms Hamiora.

End

Media contact: Dr Prudence Stone  027 289 8987

Listen to our CEO Dr Prudence Stone being interviewed, along with education expert Maureen Corby, by Jay Dunsheath of Access Radio about Sustainable Development Goal 10 Reducing Inequalities on 29 September. The focus of the discussion was SDG 10 through the lens of children with disability in New Zealand.

Remember to click on 29/09/2019 to hear the interview.

DHB Candidate Scorecards 2019 - Measuring up on public health

DHB elections are taking place this year. The Public Health Association endorses candidates who understand and prioritise health equity and population health issues and have broad experience in both governance and the health sector.

In order to identify candidates with an excellent track record and who understand the complexities of the health system three PHA branches, Otago-Southland, Canterbury and Wellington, with the support of national office, have produced DHB candidate scorecards based on responses to a survey sent to all DHB candidates.

This initiative follows the very successful scorecards Wellington branch developed for the previous DHB election in 2016.

The 2019 survey (sent via Survey Monkey) quizzed the candidates on their alignment with PHA public health values and policies as well as their health sector and governance experience. The responses were then collated and scored by a subcommittee within each branch with the candidates' responses receiving a score for each category (prevention focus, equity, pro-fluoridation and knowledge/experience) ranging from 1 (does not align) to 4 (strongly aligned).

The final scores were then sent to a designer who created a professionally designed scorecard in a format for printing (an A4 triple-fold brochure) and a single-sided jpeg for sharing on social media. Names and photos of candidates were listed in alphabetical order to avoid ranking candidates, and their scores were represented as yellow emoji faces.

Wellington Branch 

The branch launched its scorecard at its Meet the CCDHB Candidates event (co-hosted with UCAN) on Wednesday 18 September at St John's Centre, Wellington.

CCDHB candidates scorecard, pdf version

CCDHB candidates scorecard, jpeg version for social media

CCDHB candidates survey responses

Canterbury-West Coast Branch

The branch launched its scorecards at its AGM on 24 September. The branch also developed a scorecard for ECAN candidates based on their responses to another  survey.

Canterbury DHB candidates scorecard, pdf version

Canterbury DHB candidates scorecard, jpeg version for social media

Canterbury DHB candidates survey responses

ECAN candidates scorecard, pdf version

ECAN candidates scorecard, jpeg version for social media

ECAN candidates survey responses

Otago-Southland Branch

The branch launched its scorecards at its Meet the Southern DHB Candidates event on Friday 20 September at Dunedin Community House, 301 Moray Place, Dunedin.

Southland Southern DHB candidates scorecard, pdf version

Southland Southern DHB candidates scorecard, jpeg version for social media

Southland Southern DHB candidates survey responses

Otago Southern DHB candidates scorecard, pdf version

Otago Southern DHB candidates scorecard, jpeg version for social media

Otago Southern DHB candidates survey responses

Zero Carbon Bill is critical legislation for health, but targets are too little, too late

Health professionals have offered a mixed response to today’s release of the Zero Carbon Bill.

They applaud its purpose to prevent global warming of more than 1.5 degrees, but say aspects of the Bill lack the necessary urgency and accountability.

“The Bill’s targets as they stand today would be too little, too late,” says Dr Rhys Jones, Coconvenor of OraTaiao: NZ Climate and Health Council.

“The Zero Carbon Bill is too weak on agricultural emissions which comprise almost half of New Zealand’s total greenhouse gas emissions. We need to see a move away from beef and dairy for both the sake of human and planetary health,” says Dr Jones.

The Zero Carbon Bill sets a target of 10 per cent reduction in biological methane emissions by 2030, and aims for a provisional reduction ranging from 24 per cent to 47 per cent by 2050.

“Our food production systems are threatening local ecosystems and contributing to climate change, while unhealthy diets are a significant contributor to major health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and cancers. But on the other hand, a rapid transition to a healthy plant-based food system could go a long way to addressing major health issues including obesity, heart disease and protecting our drinking water.”

Dr Jones was speaking from the 2nd Sustainable Healthcare Forum in Wellington today where leaders from a range of sectors gathered to share ideas about reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the health sector. Forum participants have called on the Government to set greenhouse gas emission targets for District Health Boards.

“Health professionals are extremely concerned about the impacts of climate change on the health of people and communities. At the same time, we are excited about the health opportunities that well-designed climate action can bring,” says Dr Jones.

“A strong Zero Carbon Bill that emphasises fairness and upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi is critical for a healthy future for New Zealanders.”

ENDS

Media Spokesperson: Dr Rhys Jones, 021 411 743

Dr Rhys Jones (Ngāti Kahungunu) (rg.jones@auckland.ac.nz) is a Public Health Physician and Senior Lecturer at the University of Auckland, and Co-convenor of OraTaiao: The New Zealand Climate and Health Council.

OraTaiao: The New Zealand Climate & Health Council is a health professional organisation urgently focusing on the health threats of climate change and the health opportunities of climate action. See: www.orataiao.org.nz

Notes to editors:

About Climate Change and Health

Information is available in the following paper from the 2014 NZ Medical Journal: ‘Health and equity impacts of climate change in Aotearoa-New Zealand, and health gains from climate action’. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/read-the-journal/all-issues/2010-2019/2014/vol-127-no-1406/6366

Health threats from climate changes include: worsening illness and injury from heat and other extreme weather, changing patterns of infection including food poisoning, loss of seafood and farming livelihoods, food price rises and mass migration from the Pacific. Those on low incomes, Māori, Pacific people, children and older people will be hit first and hardest, but nobody will be immune to the widespread health and social threats of unchecked climate change. Direct and indirect climate change impacts are already being seen here from warming oceans and sea level rise.

Health opportunities from reducing greenhouse gas emissions, easing pressure on health budgets include: rapidly phasing out coal; switching from car trips to more walking, cycling and public transport; healthier diets lower in red meat and dairy; and energy efficient, warm homes will all cut emissions while also reducing the diseases that kill New Zealanders most and put our children in hospital – cancer, heart disease, lung diseases and car crash injuries.