SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

If you are interested in forming your own special interest group, or you are an existing SIG that would like to partner with PHANZ, please contact our National Office at: admin@pha.org.nz. We will put you in touch with other like-minded individuals and help share the important work that you do!

the Special Interest Group on Institutional Racism (STIR)

STIR (Stop Institutional Racism) is a special interest group within the Public Health Association of New Zealand (PHANZ) that was formed in 2013. It has evolved into a nationwide network of public health practitioners and activist scholars, dedicated to addressing and eliminating institutional racism in the public health sector.


STIR strives to remove barriers to indigenous well-being in Aotearoa New Zealand. They aim to do this by mobilising allies, engaging in decolonisation, influencing policy, monitoring government performance, re-energising conversations around working with te Tiriti o Waitangi, strengthening the evidence base about sites of racism and anti-racism praxis, and generally stirring.

The group's core membership consists of influential public health professionals, including:

  • Dr. Claire Doole

  • Trevor Simpson (Co-Chair)

  • Professor Tim McCreanor

  • Dr. Maria Baker

  • Dr. Heather Came (Co-Chair)

  • Kate Matheson

  • Ngaire Rae

  • Lisa McNab

  • Dr. Nicole Coupe

  • Leah Bain

  • Mikey Brenndorfer

  • Dr. Rose Black

  • Dr. Elspeth Frascastore

  • Associate Professor Clive Aspin


If you would like to know more or you are interested in getting involved, please contact the co-chairs at trevor.simpson@pharmac.govt.nz and/or dr.heather.came@gmail.com.

To view a copy of the STIR Annual Report October 2023- September 2024: