About Us

Tihei Tamatea Arikinui, Tihei Rongokako, Tihei Tamatea Pōkai Whenua Pōkai Moana, Tihei Kahungunu, Tihei Mauri Ora!

(Tamatea Arikinui the high chief begat, Rongokako who begat Tamatea Pokai whenua, Pokai Moana the explorer of lands and seas, who begat Kahungunu the provider for many.)

Ko te amorangi ki mua, ko te hapai ō ki muri, te tūturutanga mahi pono o te Māori mana motuhake!

(Let God be the spearhead and let the community follow, this is the true meaning of Maoridom in action)

Nau mai, haere mai rā ki a mātau, ki Te Oranga o Te Matau a Māui. Ko mātau ēnei, koia tonu hoki tā mātau kaupapa me tō mātau whāinga, ko te oranga tonu – ko ngā whānau ora me ngā hapori ora.

Kāore i ārikarika ā mātau mihi ki a koutou i peka mai nei ki konei.

Haere mai rā.

Therefore the vision of Health Hawke’s Bay is whānau ora, hapori ora (healthy families, healthy communities).  Our primary goal is to lift, elevate and provide resources for Māori that enable them — no matter where or when – to be empowered and achieve wellbeing.

Health Hawke’s Bay is the region’s Primary Health Organisation (PHO) and covers a population of about 163,000.  The Health Hawke’s Bay Board and CEO are passionate about Māori wellbeing and the health of our community.

What is a Primary Health Organisation?

A PHO provides primary health services either directly or indirectly through general practice and other health and social care providers. These services are designed to improve and maintain the health of the enrolled PHO population, and eliminate inequities in health outcomes that exist for Māori, Pasifika and high needs populations.

Health Hawke’s Bay receives funding from the Government to subsidise a range of health services. The amount of funding received is based on the numbers and the characteristics (e.g. age, sex, and ethnicity) of their enrolled population.

The funding pays for services to:

  • provide care and treatment when people are ill
  • help people to stay healthy
  • connect with groups in the community who have poor health or who are missing out on primary health care

Enrolment in a PHO

Enrolment in a PHO is voluntary. Most New Zealanders are enrolled through their general practice and gain the benefits associated with belonging to a PHO, which can include cheaper doctors’ visits and reduced costs of prescription medicines.