PUBLIC HEALTH AWARDS
2024 public health Awards winners announced!
Each year the Public Health Association of New Zealand (PHANZ) honours individuals and groups who have positively contributed to public health action through its prestigious Public Health Awards.
The four award categories are:
Public Health Champion
The Public Health Champion Award recognises an individual or individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to public health, have raised the profile of one or more public health issue, and in turn positively raised the profile of the Public Health Association of New Zealand.
TU Rangatira mo te Ora
The Tū Rangatira mo te Ora recognises an individual, group or organisation, iwi/hapu, or marae that have shown leadership in hauora development, shown a true commitment to Hauora Māori, raised the profile of Māori in public health, and in turn positively raised the profile of the Public Health Association of New Zealand.
Pasifika Public Health Award
The Pasifika Public Health Award recognises an individual or individuals who have shown leadership in public health within Pacific communities, shown a true commitment to Pacific People’s health, raised the profile of Pacific People in public health, and in turn positively raised the profile of the Public Health Association of New Zealand.
Asian and Ethnic Peoples Public Health Award
The Asian and Ethnic Peoples Public Health Award recognises an individual or individuals who have shown leadership in public health within Asian and Ethnic People communities, shown a true commitment to Asian and Ethnic People’s health, raised the profile of Asian and Ethnic People in public health, and in turn positively raised the profile of the Public Health Association of New Zealand.
Public Health Award Winners 2023 - 2024
Public health champion award 2023-2024
Winner: Te Aka Whai ora
Te Aka Whai Ora, initiated by Waitangi Tribunal recommendations to elevate Māori leadership in health care, has made significant contributions under CEO Riana Manuel's guidance. Despite its short tenure, Te Aka Whai Ora has been instrumental in reshaping Māori public health. It successfully navigated the challenges of the post-COVID era, strengthened Iwi-Māori collaborations, improved Māori health services, and steadfastly promoted Māori health concerns amidst co-governance discussions. Their pivotal role in redefining Māori health's place in New Zealand's health framework and championing traditional Māori knowledge and practices marks a pivotal shift in health governance, meriting them the 2024 PHANZ Public Health Champion Award.
Pasifika public health award 2023 - 2024
Winner:
TE WHATU ORA HAWKES BAY PACIFIC HEALTH TEAM
The Hawke's Bay Pacific Health Team's nomination for the Pasifika Public Health Award underscores their significant contribution to Pacific community health, particularly during Cyclone Gabrielle. Since their inception in 2012, their innovative public health efforts, including an effective COVID vaccination campaign, have set them apart. Their swift, compassionate response to Cyclone Gabrielle, bridging the emergency response gap and aiding over a thousand affected individuals in collaboration with local Pacific churches, exemplifies their commitment to service, love, and community cohesion. This exemplary model of leadership and resilience in health crisis management and disaster preparedness underscores their worthiness for the award.
Since its founding in 2004, the Centre for Asian and Ethnic Minority Health Research and Evaluation (CAHRE) at the University of Auckland has significantly impacted health equity for Asian and ethnic minority groups in Aotearoa. With its pioneering transdisciplinary approach, CAHRE has shaped policy, driven social change, and led the way in securing targeted funding for research on a broad spectrum of health concerns. Through innovative outreach and educational efforts, CAHRE has cultivated a new cadre of scholars and emerged as a key player in public health advocacy, making meaningful contributions to both national and international dialogues on ethnic minority health issues.
Asian and Ethnic Peoples Public Health Award 2023 - 2024
winner: CENTRE FOR ASIAN AND ETHNIC MINORITY HEALTH RESEARCH AND EVALUATION (CAHRE)
TU Rangatira mo te ora Award 2023 - 2024
Winner: Māori Advisory Group, Liggins institute
The Liggins Institute Māori Research Advisory Group (LIMRAG) at the University of Auckland is pivotal in weaving Te Ao Māori principles into the institute's research framework, aligning projects with Tikanga Māori and Kaupapa Māori methodologies. Embodying values such as Manaakitanga, Whānaungatanga, and Kaitiakitanga, LIMRAG not only enriches the Liggins Institute's work but also impacts the wider academic field, promoting a culture of respect and transformation. By honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi and integrating Māori perspectives, particularly in early life research, LIMRAG plays a vital role in advancing the health and well-being of pēpi and whānau, ensuring that Māori cultural practices and principles are reflected in research outcomes.
2022 Award Recipients
Public Health Champions Award:
Tania Hodges
Tania has iwi affiliations with Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Tūwharetoa.
Her nomination form read;
“She is a stunning example of a wahine Māori with integrity, a mother, an athlete, a successful businesswoman, a professional governor and a long time strong public health activist.”
Tania is the Managing Director of Digital Indigenous with extensive experience in health, education, governance, funding, contracting, strategy, change management, Māori and Iwi relationships, workforce, leadership and community development.
She is fearless in the face of adversity, less for herself and more for those whose voice is not heard.
Since 2001, her consultancy company has done many things including the provision of leadership training to approximately 1000 Māori health professionals; supporting their leadership journey to make a real difference to the lives of themselves, their whānau and others.
Tū Rangatira mō Te Ora Award:
Manurewa Marae
Manurewa Marae demonstrated their enduring commitment to the whānau, hapū, iwi and communities of Tāmaki Makaurau during the COVID-19 pandemic. They acted as one of the main vaccination outreach teams across the highest demographic of Māori in the South Auckland region.
Manurewa Marae has continued to meet whānau where they are, when they need it and how they wish to engage with public health and health promotion services.
Their stellar leadership as a Marae to step in and provide a tremendous effort deserves the Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award for 2022.
Asian and Ethnic Peoples Public Health Award
Group delivering Te Whatu Ora Waitematā’s Health service model for Asian/ethnic communities: Grace Ryu, Lifeng Zhou, Tian Min (Maggie) Ma, Gautam Raj Singh, Stephanie Lee.
Te Whatu Ora Waitemata’s Health Service Model for Asian/ethnic Communities received the inaugural ‘Asian and Ethnic Peoples Public Health Award.’
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Waitematā’s response to Asian and ethnic communities has been a huge success. With the three key components, together with colleagues from NRHCC: health gain and health intelligence team focusing on Asian, Migrants and Former Refugees (with the functions of planning, funding and service commissioning); the Asian Health Services within the Te Whatu Ora Waitematā’s provider arm and the international collaboration initiative with Asian countries.
One in five people in Aotearoa New Zealand is of Asian descent or other ethnic minority groups. Because of this, a high-performing national-regional-local unified Asian & Ethnic Health Service Model is essential to support Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American and African (MELAA) and other ethnic populations to meet their diverse and unmet health and wellbeing needs.
The Pasifika Public Health Award: Not awarded for 2022
Past Award Recipients
2021
Public Health Champion: Associate Professor Heather Came-Friar, and the Auckland Regional Public Health Service
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: Teresa Olsen
Pasifika Award: Dr Api Talemaitoga.
2020
Public Health Champion: Professor Michael Baker
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: Professor Helen Moewaka Barnes
Pasifika Award: Dr Api Talemaitoga
2019
Public Health Champion: Sione Tu'itahi
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: National SUDI Prevention Coordination Service (NSPCS). Nari Faiers and Faye Selby-Law.
Pasifika Award: Dr El-Shadan (Dan) Taulolo
2018
Public Health Champion: Mary-Ann McKibben and Keith Reid
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: Te Mata Rangatira-Hauraki Rangatahi Roopu
2017
Public Health Champion: Dame Margaret Sparrow and Grant Berghan
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: Kathrine Clarke
2016
Public Health Champion: Catherine Healy and Anna Reed
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: Metira Turei
2015
Public Health Champion: John Raeburn
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: Valerie Teraitua
2014
Public Health Champion: Murray Laugesen
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: Carrie Taipari
2013
Public Health Champion: Lance O'Sullivan
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: The Orakei Kaumatua and Kuia Reference Group
2012
Public Health Champion: Cindy Kiro and Alison Blaiklock
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: Helen Herbert
2011
Public Health Champion: Dallas Honey
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: Te Puawaitanga ki Otautahi Trust
2010 (and prior)
Public Health Champion: Robert Beaglehole and Ruth Bonita
Tū Rangatira mō te Ora Award Recipient: Hon. Tariana Turia
Public Health Champion: Cheryl Brunton
Public Health Champion: Marty Rogers
Public Health Champion: Papaarangi Reid
Public Health Champion: Philippa Howden-Chapman
Public Health Champion: Ann Shaw
Public Health Champion: Pauline Barnett
Public Health Champion: Mason Durie
Public Health Champion: Louise Croot
Public Health Champion: Judith Reinken and George Salmond
Public Health Champion: Paratene Ngata
Public Health Champion: Helen Glasgow