Pou Whakarae | Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Irihāpeti Mahuika

Irihāpeti joined Health Hawke’s Bay as the Chief Executive in October 2023 from Pegasus Health, Christchurch where she was the Director Hauora Māori.

She is proud of her whakapapa (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māhaki ki Te Tai Poutini, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō) and is an advocate for all people having access to equitable, and quality healthcare. She has a great passion for Kaupapa Māori through mana-enhancing relationships with communities centred around whānau, empowering them to be leaders of their own hauora.

Irihāpeti leads by empowering our orgnaisation values which resonates deeply through the organisation in our mahi.

Director of Hauora Māori | Poutahū Ahurea Māori

Henry Heke

Henry has been with Health Hawke’s Bay since January 2021, previously with Te Puni Kokiri.

He has experience with the Ministry for Māori Development, and Hawke’s Bay DHB as the Head of Intersector and Special Projects, enabling a strong collaboration between organisations.

Henry is passionate about te reo and tikanga, supporting kaupapa Māori practices at Health Hawke’s Bay. His passion is shown in the community is shown with his dedication and ongoing mahi with Māori and Pasifika people.

As the Director of Hauora Māori, Henry establishes Māori culture in the organisation and provides strong Māori relationships and leadership with our providers.

Clinical Director Primary Care | Poutahū Rongoā

Brendan Duck

Brendan grew up in Rotorua, moving to Hawke’s Bay in 2011 to an innovative role in general practice as a clinical pharmacist, becoming a director of the practice in 2015.  Brendan studied Pharmacy at Otago University, with post-graduate study in Clinical Pharmacy, Primary Healthcare, and Pharmacist Prescribing.  His most recent roles included being a pharmacist prescriber in long-term conditions and an ongoing role as System Lead for Medicines at Te Whatu Ora, Te Matau a Māui.

Brendan has widespread experience across primary care and pharmacy, prior to coming to Hawke’s Bay, Brendan owned a community pharmacy in Taranaki for 8 years.

The innovative work in general practice Brendan has been involved with has received recognition nationally for its integrated approach, medicine safety, and equity of health outcomes.  Brendan has a strong interest in enhancing health and wellbeing through interprofessional collaboration, with a particular focus on working alongside Māori and Pacific to help them achieve Pae ora – healthy futures.   

Chief Information Officer | Piutāhū Uru Kahikatea

Matt Lord

Chief Information Officer | Poutāhū Uru Kahikatea

Matt is an experienced senior leader with over 20 years of IT experience. He has worked for a range of local and global organisations in a number roles including, Unilver’s Global Enterprise Architect, Kiwibank’s Head of Technology Risk, NTT New Zealand’s Head of Cyber Security Practice and more recently Te Whatu Ora’s National CISO.

Also holding the CIO role at Tū Ora Compass, through the two organisations Head of Agreement, Matt’s skillsets allows strong collaboration between the two Data and Digital teams, managing resources and skill sets between the PHO’s.

Organisation Development and Services Lead | Poutāhū Ratonga Raupapa

Tracey Paterson

Tracey joined Health Hawke’s Bay in April 2024. Her background spans multiple secondary health Human Resources roles, culture and organisational development roles

She brings an array of skills and a deep passion for the health sector, ensuring the mahi of her team flow through Health Hawke’s Bay’s providers and practices.

In this role, Tracey guides and leads the enabling functions of the organisation, ensuring Health Hawke’s Bay adds value and provides support to Hawke’s Bay’s Primary Health Sector.

Enabling functions include our data and digital team, contracts, Te Pou Tawa, human resources, projects and communications.

Clinical Operations Lead | Potāhū Rau Kawakawa

Janice Byford-Jones

Janice joined Health Hawke’s Bay in 2023 prior to that, having worked in health with over 30 years of nursing experience. Her experience spans practice areas of Medical and Surgical, Occupational Health, Assessment, Treatment & Rehabilitation and specialised in Emergency Nursing.

As the Clinical Operations Lead, Janice is responsible for leading the Clinical Services of our Te Uru Mataī programme, Provider Engagement and Development and Health Programmes to ensure that the services provided uplift the health of the Hawke’s Bay community.

Janice is also involved in the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal as a nurse member appointed by the Minister of Health.

Strategic Advisor | Pou Ahurea Rautaki

Fiona Thomson

• Principal Advisor, General Practice NZ
• Member, PES Governance Group
• Member, General Practice Leaders’ Forum
• PSAAP Appointed Agent, General Practice NZ

Fiona has a background in accounting, financial services and information systems and has been in executive management positions within primary care for 20 years.  Other industries she has worked in include finance, pulp and timber, meat processing and local government.

Fiona has a particular interest in the information platforms underpinning clinical service delivery and integrated care.  She was influential in the development of the GP2GP electronic file transfer service, the Integrated Performance and Incentive Framework (now Systems Level Measures), the NZ ePrescription Service and the National Enrolment Service. She was a founding Director of Patients First Ltd, the NZ quality and information programme for integrated care and a former chair of the NZ Primary Care Patient Experience Survey governance group.

Fiona divides her time between her work commitments in Wellington and Hawke’s Bay and her home in Napier.

Executive Officer | Poutuitui Whakarae

Nicole Cunningham

Nicole joined Health Hawke’s Bay in March 2024 bringing experience from Air New Zealand and most recently, Eastern Institute of Technology as the Executive Assistant to a Dean and Faculty Administration Manager.

Nicole’s priorities are with the Governance group and committees, CEO of Health Hawke’s Bay, as well as the Te Matau a Māui Health Trust. She is the first point of contact for all matters relating to the Board and Governance, keeping relationships strong with the organisation.

Nicole will support co-ordinating governance meetings, collating and distributing governance information and monitoring organisational risk and strategy measures.

Executive Assistant | Pouārahi Whakarae

Jude McRae

Jude has been with Health Hawke’s Bay since July 2021 and has an extensive administrative background within the health sector which includes public and private hospital, general practice, disability support, allied health, and elder care rest home, hospital and respite services.

Jude provides a proactive and dedicated executive level of support to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team whilst being first point of contact for all ELT related matters.

Along with a passion for Health Hawke’s Bay’s values, Jude’s wealth of experience helps the organisation to maintain positive relationships with external stakeholders.