Governance

Board of Directors

The Board sets the strategic direction of Health Hawke’s Bay. It establishes the overall policy framework, provides effective oversight of the activities carried out by management, and protects shareholder’s interests. The Board’s focus is to ensure the overarching goals of the organisation are met and equitable health services are provided to the community of Hawke’s Bay by the PHO.

Na Raihania

Board Chair

Tena koutou e nga rau Rangatira ma. Ko Na Raihania toku ingoa he uri no Rongamaiwahine me Kahungunu.

I am married to Marnie and together we have 4 children and 7 grandchildren.

Current appointments:

  • Elected member for Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou
  • Ministerial Appointed Board member for Hauora Tairawhiti (DHB)
  • Chair for Te Waiora o Nukutaimemeha (Tairawhiti MRB)
  • Member for Midlands region Iwi Relationship Board.
  • Iwi appointed member for the Maori Relationship Board Hawkes Bay
  • Kahungunu rep for Central region Maori health Board Te Whiti ki te Uru.
  • Chair for Tauwhareparae 1F Farm.
  • Employed by Dept of Corrections Hastings.

My passion is to find ways for whanau to invest in their own health success. Ensure that structures and processes allow for that investment and to support a primary care strategy that focuses on prevention, education, and quality.

Nicola Toynton

Deputy Chair

I have spent 35 years working in general practice, both in England and New Zealand, and I am currently a GP in Clive.

I am married to Stephen who is an ENT surgeon, and have four daughters and two grandsons.

I have extensive governance experience and have been an elected member of the General Medical Council (UK) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (UK).

Whilst living in Hawke’s Bay I have been keen to understand the local culture and values. I am a New Zealand Citizen, have been awarded the FRNZCGP, and I am the vice chairman of the local faculty board of the RNZCGP. I have attended Te Reo Māori classes in order to more fully understand Tikanga Māori.

I aim to communicate the values and needs of general practice whilst working collaboratively with other health care providers. I bring relevant experience and clear thinking to help improve the health outcomes and reduce inequalities for the people of Hawke’s Bay.

Jeremy Harker

Board Member

Jeremy Harker is a senior manager for a local roading and construction company and has extensive experience in governance, human resources management, health and safety, and operational and strategic leadership, all of which he has gained through a variety of roles in the private and public sector.

Jeremy continues to be an active member of the Wairoa community, from his period as a Wairoa District Councillor to his involvement in school and sporting activities, including the Wairoa CACTUS programmes at Wairoa College.

Dr. Kiriana Bird

Board Member

Dr Kiriana Bird (Ngati Tukorehe, Ngati Porou) is currently the Medical Director for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga (TTOH) providing Māori, clinical governance and leadership internally, regionally (Director at Health Hawke’s Bay currently) and nationally (Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa and Te Akoranga a Maui both medical indigenous organisations previously).

Kiri continues to work as a General Practitioner.  She has a passion for Māori Health working her entire career with the most vulnerable Māori population in the Hawke’s Bay – with the main driver being equity for Maori.

She is a fellow of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and also has a keen interest in teaching/giving back to the profession and community.  She is the Lead Medical Educator for the RNZCGP guiding and teaching younger General Practitioner Registrars in the Hawkes Bay and is one of two Māori General Practitioners providing Māori clinical/pastoral oversight for the Māori General Practitioner Registrars nationwide.

As the Medical Director, Kiri has been part of TTOH’s journey in recognition of the need for changing the way services are currently provided, strengthening relationships, enhancing the kaupapa Māori approach and building strong, agile teams, culturally able, to support self-determination for Māori.

Chrissie Hape

Board Member

Chrissie is of Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngai Tahu and Moriori descent and is the Kaiwhakahaere Matua (Chief Executive) of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Inc; responsible for the leadership and the operational management of the Iwi office and the achievement of the Annual Plan. Chrissie has over 35 years’ experience working in the government and community sectors and 4 years with Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi. Her career has predominantly focused on the creation and strengthening of partnerships between government, community, and Iwi which facilitate improved health, education, social and wellbeing outcomes and the reduction of inequities of our families and communities as a whole. She is an experienced manager and leader of teams. Chrissie took on the role of Kaiwhakahaere Matua in July 2018. Prior to this appointment, Chrissie worked at the Iwi office as the Senior Advisor Iwi Partnerships leading initiatives to repatriate children from state care back to families and improving practices to strengthen and increase whānau resilience and capability. Chrissie is also interim Chief Executive of Takitimu Seafoods Limited Partnership which is a commercial company dealing in the processing and selling of Kaimoana (shellfish, wet fish).

Andrew Lesperance

Board Member

Andrew Lesperance is currently the CEO for the Hastings Health Centre and has extensive experience in governance and financial management, as well as a previous clinical background in cardiac and intensive care nursing. His career has followed a health related trajectory with multiple health leadership and operational roles including acting CEO and GM planning and funding for DHBs, Ministry of Health and private health sector involvement within New Zealand, and previously in Canada and the USA.

Originally from Canada, Andrew is of Metis Indian descent and has a passion for his ancestry. He has a wife and three grown children, and has a passion for travel and the outdoors. He has recently completed the eight great walks of New Zealand and wants everyone to go for a walk, ride or swim regularly!

Leigh White

Board Member

I am a dedicated Registered Nurse with over 37 years’ experience (nursing, leadership). I have robust knowledge in differing health sectors (primary, secondary, strategic (local and national)). I have considerable experience in governance as a member on multiple Hawke’s Bay Boards; to name a few: Napier City Council Advocacy Committee; Hawke’s Bay District Health Board Clinical Council and Consumer Council; Hawke’s Bay Nursing and Midwifery Council, National Advanced Care Planning Development Committee; Quality and Safety Commissioner on Consumer Engagement; Urgent Care Alliance and a Trustee on the Te Matau a Maui Health Trust. I thrive on challenges where my skills, knowledge and experience can be acknowledged, enhanced and utilised effectively. I have a mindset to commit ensuring my knowledge is executed with success. I believe execution is about being capable, enthusiastic, ambitious and mentally resilient enough to achieve results.  I am passionate about caring and always looking to make a continued significant contribution to all aspects of the health population. I am highly dedicated and results orientated and by using my energy, drive and commitment will want to see health in Hawke’s Bay thrive.

Bayden Barber

Board Member

Ko te Whanganui-ā-Tara te maunga
Ko Waingongoro te te awa
Ko Waimārama te marae
Ko Taupunga te whare
Ko Ngāti Kurukuru te hapū
Ko Ngāti Kahungunu, ko Ngāpuhi, ko Kai Tahu ōku iwi

As current Chair of Health Hawke’s Bay, Bayden aims to ensure the population of Hawke’s Bay has access to effective primary health care services, better integration across the sector to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities. Bayden is an elected member on the Hastings District Council and currently self-employed, managing a consultancy business with his wife Myra.

Bayden is an active member in the Waimārama community, supporting the development of Marae based clinics, delivery of Kia Ora programmes and the provision of Red Cross transport to health services.

Darran Lowes

Board Member

Dr. Darran Lowes is a general practitioner and practice owner at Taradale Medical Centre. He was appointed to the Health Hawke’s Bay board in 2020 and sits on the Clinical Advisory and Governance committee. He is also a Faculty Member of the Hawke’s Bay chapter of the Royal NZ College of GPs. He hopes to see the relationships between the PHO and primary care continue to grow, building upon the agility shown during the response to CoVid19. When he isn’t at work he can be found baking bread or working towards his private pilot’s license at the Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club