WHEN diagnosed with prostate cancer at the end of 2009, Ron Heemi was told to get himself to Palmerston North for treatment – and make it quick.

But when he pulled out of his Te Karaka home, instead of heading for Palmy he turned left to Gisborne and got on a plane to visit his children and moko in Australia.

“I knew I had to have treatment but this was not news I was prepared to give them over the phone,” he says. “I wanted to tell them face to face.”

It’s that care for others that has been a defining feature of Ron's journey to health, and something he says he gets back in spades from the team at Turanga Health.

First, though, Ron (68) – a handy hooker in his day -- helped Turanga Health by getting the message out to men.

“I just happened to see Tama (Turanga Health population health manager Dwayne Tamatea) at the Waikohu Health Centre and he asked if I'd go talk to the local rugby team about getting checked,” he says.

Continuing with that work saw Ron previously nominated for a Tairāwhiti Man of the Year Award but he still managed to accumulate a range of health problems, from the arthritis that keeps him on crutches to pre-diabetes and the high blood pressure he manages on a daily basis.

To help, he accesses an equally wide range of Turanga Health services including attending twice-weekly Eke Tū sessions in Te Karaka, where he and other whānau get both educational support and a good physical work-out to boot.

Ever the doer, Ron has also taken part in Turanga Health's DIY workshops, which he says are invaluable for those needed to do jobs around the house.

For those tasks that are too big, however, he's had an assessment through Turanga Health's Health

Homes initiative that will see the repair work done to help make his home dry and warm.

It's all good, practical stuff but Ron says he especially likes Turanga Health's focus on the whole whānau.

“When you get crook it is not just you that suffers . . . it is all those who love you,” he says. “I had to go through 13 weeks of radiation and it breaks my heart to think that my wife had to go through it, too, so that support is really important.”

A former farmer, Ron (Ngāi Tūhoe) believes life on the land can be hard on people like him who have had physically-taxing jobs.

“But it's not just the physical things Turanga Health helps with . . . being unwell can be really isolating and a bit depressing, and they help with that as well.”

Turanga Health rural nurse Amanda Humphris says she loves working with Ron, who she describes as “a real community man”.

“He'll do anything for anyone,” she says. “You'll never hear a bad word about him.”

That's not to say she won't get tough when required – Ron has already lost more than 10 kilograms in preparation for surgery to help fix his arthritic hips and she is right behind him in helping get rid of that last five kilograms.

“And I really appreciate it!” Ron laughs. `“We might be part of the Turanga Health whānau, but she is part of ours, too.”
 
 

IN yet another year of controversy, Three Rivers Medical introduced a wild card in its annual cook-off with Turanga Health, in which the two health providers celebrate healthy eating . . . and healthy competition.

During last year's barbeque-themed event, both teams tried to improve their chances by sneakily sourcing extra-special local product for their grills, with Three Rivers taking out the title on the day.

This year, Three Rivers co-owner and education co-ordinator Dr Fergus Aitcheson further turned up the dial with an unconventional take on the pizza theme, doing a Mexican hat dance all over the brief by opting to create South American quesadilla.

However, Turanga Health had its own advantage . . . as part of its healthy food programme it has been towing around a food trailer – complete with in-built pizza ovens – to service workplaces around the rohe.

Community Action on Youth and Drugs (CAYAD) co-ordinator Waldo Horomia can't calculate how many pizzas he has made over the year, “but it must be in the hundreds”. Pizza de jour for him and his team-mates was the seafood-heavy Little Mermaid.

But he wasn't the only one manning the oven, each organisation fielded four teams of three with different offerings to tempt the crowd.

“If you have a nice thin base and choose fresh, healthy toppings, then pizza can be a good meal choice,” says Turanga Health project manager Dallas Poi. “Plus, everyone loves pizza, which is why we chose them for our Healthy Food initiative.”

For Dr Fergus, though, even a little bit naughty can be a little bit nice if enjoyed in moderation. Among his team's menu of quesadilla was the Sweet Surprise, featuring marshmallows on a spread of Nutella.

Not to be outdone, Turanga Health countered with its own dessert pizza, alongside tempting offerings like chief executive Reweti Ropiha's special Tane Mahuta and Tangaroa Tuatara pizzas.

Hot competition aside, Three Rivers chief executive/co-owner Ingrid Collins says that as well as encouraging healthy eating, the cook-off is a chance for the two organisations to celebrate their ongoing relationship.

“We've worked well together since we launched in 2012 and it's an important way to encourage healthy living beyond the doctors' rooms.”

With Turanga Health smoking cessation kaiawhina (and professional entertainer) Walter “The Wiz” Walsh on board as MC for this year's cook-off, the crowd at Three Rivers' carpark were urged to try each team's menu, then vote for the Supreme Winner.

The honour went to Turanga Health, with a “landslide” 144 votes to 104, and members of the crowd were in to win, too, with a fancy pizza oven up for grabs.

​That went to Te Whetu Manu, who can now make her own healthy pizza meals.

Matawai mother Robyn Tomlinson reckons she learns by “doing”, so was first in line for a lesson on plastering at Turanga Health’s latest DIY in the Whare this month. 

“I came down because I wanted to know how to fix my home, and how to do it myself.”

Robyn is one of over 100 whānau around the rohe who has visited a Turanga Health DIY in the Whare event hosted in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity this year.

Each two hour event is a one-stop do-it-yourself expo where visitors can learn tips and tricks to remedy and repair their home.

Visitors learn how to plaster a hole in the wall, fix leaking taps, and heat their house for less. Visitors are also invited to bring their power bills and let the experts from Electric Village take a look and work out how to bring their monthly power bill down.

Brett Goddard from Alpha Electrical, plasterer Noah Lee, DIY guru John Wauchop, and Smart Energy insulation company make up the advisory contingent.

Popping down to the event at Matawai School was a no-brainer for mother of two Robyn. A hole in the wall created by a rat seeking shelter from the Matawai winter can now be filled in folllwing her hands on lesson with plasterer Noah Lee.

“It was simple, it was easy to follow, and I will definitely be able to replicate that at home,” says Robyn.
Matawai business woman Sue Seymour visited DIY in the Whare to get some advice about a carpentry project. She wants to build a ramp and needed to understand what might be involved before she commits herself to the project.

“This has been good and I’ve learned a lot.”

Turanga Health chief executive Reweti Ropiha says when whānau can repair or make their own items for their home there are obvious benefits in terms of money saved.

“There are also many hidden benefits such as transferable skills, inspiring your children to try projects, and self-reliance that makes you less inclined to panic when things do go wrong.”
​
Reweti says whānau may not save a tremendous amount the first time they are called upon to use, for example, their sink-repair skills, “but if you do this three times throughout your life you'll undoubtedly save money in the long run.”

DIY in the Whare events have been held at Te Karaka, Muriwai, Whatatutu, Manutuke, Patutahi, Matawai, Mangatu and Waiherere. 

Keep an eye on Facebook/Turanga Health for the next DIY in the Whare.

Nine contestants from Turanga Health last month took on the annual national Kaumatua Olympics in Hamilton — and won.

Turanga Health’s first-ever competing team of Henare Stirling, Pera Smiler, Francis Galloway, Mattie Ahu, Tomairangi Duncan, Louise Kemp, Mereana Andrews, Barbara Allison and Rawiri Haapu were named the national champions of the 15-year-old, semi-annual event.

“It’s because we cheated!” co-captain Francis (77) jokingly said.

What he was admitting to, however, was that with the team’s average age being a whisker under 70, they were one of the younger teams at the Olympics.

That’s because Turanga representatives had to be sure they were all well enough to make the trip to Hamilton but once they were deemed fit to attend, not one turned down the opportunity to take part.
“That’s what you do when someone asks you to do something,” Barbara, 69, said.

“You just say “yes” and do what you can.”

The Kaumatua Olympics involves activities like line-dancing, seated volleyball, kumara toss, wheelchair relays and crowd favourite Kumba, which is Zumba modified for kaumatua.

Pera, 70, said he was keen to give anything a go.

“To be honest, I had no idea what we were in for but I loved the whole experience, it was magic,” he said.

But team bus driver, Rawiri (66) — a three-year veteran of the Kaumatua Programme — said he absolutely went there to win, “we just happened to have a great experience at the same time”.

Established 21 years ago, Turanga Health’s Kaumatua Programme continues to serve about 300 koroua and kuia in helping them maintain health, independence and community connections through fortnightly gatherings that are usually held at marae.

Henare (67) said he’d never been one to really socialise, which is what prompted him to join the programme.
“Going away to compete was challenging but totally worth it, we had a whole lot of laughs.”
Mattie, (72), was also grateful for the opportunity to compete.

“Turanga Health always shows us the greatest of care . . . but who’d have thought we could have such an amazing experience”.

And 75-year-old Toimairangi said she wouldn’t have missed the event for the world, “We were all there as one, a big whanau”.

After a day of games and events where the team was pitted against nearly 300 other competitors, they brought home the carved wooden trophy.

And Turanga Health kaiawhina Louise Kemp (68), also a team member, said they were well cared for while they were away.

“There was a beautiful bridge between rangatahi and kaumatua,” she said.

“It’s like when your own mokopuna do well and make you proud,” co-captain Mereana Andrews added, about the Rototuna High School students who hosted this year’s Olympics. “From preparing the food to organising the events . . . they were incredible.”

Back in Gisborne, the victors were guests of honour at a presentation event where more than 150 pakeke were at Lawson Field Theatre in support.

As a bonus, there was a screening of historic footage – dating as far back as 1919 – from the New Zealand Film Archive.
“This is not the first time we’ve done this and it really means a lot,” Kaumatua Programme co-ordinator Kay
Robin said.

“For some of our whanau the footage brings back memories, for others it’s a chance to see images they have never seen before.”

Team Turanga Health say they are looking forward to defending their trophy at next year’s Kaumatua Olympics.

​“It would be nice to give some of our other whanau a chance to compete,” Francis said, “but if they call us, we will come running!”

Loiuse Kemp might join the pakeke in their exercise sessions but she's not ready for the kaumātua programme yet!

The 69-year-old has put in 21 years of service as a Tūranga Health kaiāwhina and says she’s got more to give.

“It’s been a long time, but I've been able to do wonderful, rewarding work,” she says. “I love my job to this very day.”

When sourcing kaiāwhina (community health workers) Tūranga Health always looks for a good fit and in 1998, when they were looking for someone to work with pakeke (elders), they knew they’d found it in Louise.

Since then, she’s been “an absolute rock”, says chief executive Reweti Ropiha.

“She’s been in so many households around the district and seen so many dynamic and changing whānau situations, like being there as people have passed,” he says. “She has a way about her that draws out a high level of confidence and trust. She is the one person they ask for.”

Raised by her grandmother at her Muriwai home, as a young woman Louise (Ngai Tāmanuhiri) sought the bright lights of big-city Auckland but returned in the 1980s.

Throughout the 1990s she cared for her elderly father so by the time he passed away early in 1998, she was well attuned to the needs of older whānau.

“Back then the Kaumātua Programme was small – nothing like the 150 older whānau we work with today – with only a few people going out to the marae for the get-togethers,” she says.

“My dad couldn't get around much so having a chance to mix with other kaumātua was a really important outing for him, and that's what got me interested in the work.”

As well as working at group events for pakeke, Louise joins Tūranga Health nurses in visiting them at home, working through any issues they might have and helping them access the services they need.

“Especially back in the early days, many didn't understand the health issues and systems they were dealing with so when we explain in layman's terms what is happening, they can be confident they know what it means to them.”

Tūranga Health chair Pene Brown says when Louise started as a kaiāwhina, their contribution to the health sector was sometimes not fully appreciated.

“But we knew what they could bring and in Louise's case we embraced her for the person she was, and melded the job around her. She brought to us some beautiful skills that enabled us to help her grow as a kaiāwhina, and to have the success she has had with our pakeke.”
​

It’s been 22 years since Tūranga Health started with modest beginnings and an even more modest bank balance, and Billy Babbington was there right from the beginning.

As a respected rugby league stalwart who had worked in shearing sheds and on the freezing works floor, he was the perfect person to come on board to work in a key area of need . . . men's health.

When he joined Tūranga Health back in 1997, Billy had already spent time working at a residential home for people with physical, intellectual and mental health disabilities.

And while he may come across as a bit of a hard man, the father, grandfather and great-grandfather says his ultimate goal is to help those who need it most.

“Billy's attributes were obvious to us very early on in the piece,” says Tūranga Health chief executive Reweti Rophia. “He is a man that makes things happen behind the scenes, at the back of the marae.”

When it came time for a change, Billy's past experience in the workforce again came to the fore – he'd already seen his fair share of mental health issues – so for the last eight years he has been working with the mental health and addiction services team, upskilling with a Certificate and Diploma in Mental Health to help fulfil the role.

“Back in the day you might have known someone had problems but nothing was really done about it, then one day they might just not come back to work,” he says.

“Now we know better. We know that with the right care and support we can help whānau towards being well and that's why we do what we do. It's about making a difference.”

And according to Tūranga Health kaumatua John Pomana, that's just what Billy (Ngati Porou) does.

“Some of our whānau need a special kind of support and that is what Billy offers,” says John. “With all whānau, Billy cares for them while ensuring their rights around self-determination are protected.”

Tūranga Health chair Pene Brown, too, highly values what Billy Babbington brings to the team.

“He has really found his niche in supporting whānau with mental health challenges.” Pene Brown says.
​
“He's sympathetic and non-judgemental, and has an innate ability to earn the trust of whānau he is looking after, often during times that can be very emotional.”

Tūranga Health’s clinical manager Shirley Keown, can’t believe babies she cared for as a Well Child Tamariki Ora nurse are now having babies themselves.

“Gosh, is it that long? I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not?”.
This month Shirley, along with five colleagues, celebrates 20 years of service with Tūranga Health.

Shirley’s presence on the team is definitely a good thing, according to Tūranga Health chairman Pene Brown.

“We’ve benefited from her clinical authority and expertise in quality health practice. She’s been a leading light right from the start.”

Shirley joined Tūranga Health in 1999 to set up its Well Child Tamariki Ora programme with colleague Sonya Smith. Tūranga Health’s Well Child service now looks after nearly half of the 700 babies born in Gisborne every year.

Shirley didn’t plan on being a nurse. She entered the profession after a fortuitous cooking course placement in Hutt Hospital’s kitchen. Drawn more to caring than cooking she switched careers.

She worked at hospitals in Wellington, Auckland and Gisborne. Once at Tūranga Health she discovered a talent for project management.

In 2007 Shirley led the organisation to achieve its first accreditation. Accreditation is an intense process of auditing that sees Shirley – and the rest of the team – come under the microscope.

Shirley says that initial accreditation and the ones that followed strengthened the organisation and proved it to be a high-quality health provider.

“And for me it’s about what people are entitled to in health care. It doesn’t matter who or where they are - they should get the best service available.”

Shirley has been responsible for helping deliver other programmes at Tūranga Health including the disease state management service now called whānau ora community nursing.

These days she’s more likely to be facing a room of politicians than patients as she pulls together applications for projects and funding with the senior management team.

Behind the scenes Shirley has earned a degree in health science, a post-graduate diploma in disease state management, and a masters in health science. Right now, she’s working towards her PhD at University of Otago’s pharmacy school.

She’s an active member of the community, completed plenty of tough physical events, and with husband David has three children, and two mokopuna.
 
Looking back over the past 20 years Shirley is very proud of Tūranga Health’s achievements and cites the extensive relationships with the Health Safety and Quality Commission, primary industry, tertiary education facilities, and primary care organisations as examples of the high regard the organisation is now held in.
 
She has a typically low-key response to her own personal achievements. “I think it’s good to extend yourself and have the courage to give things a go. Do you really want to get to the end of your life and wish you had tried more things?”
 

A big man with a big heart and a massive legacy; Whakahawera Rere Kite Pakanga Kerr's more than two decades of service have made him a cherished member of the Tūranga Health team.

Known as Libby – after his uncle was wounded in Libya on the day of his birth in 1941 – he’s been with Tūranga Health from its early days and chief executive Reweti Ropiha says he made his mark right from the start.

“Libby was first at Tūranga Health as someone who could work with older males,” says Reweti, who in 1999 convinced Libby to be kaumātua for the fledgling health organisation. “He was someone they could walk their health journey alongside, someone who could be a confidant and give tāne confidence.”

Libby (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Porou, Rongowhakaata, Ngai Tamanuhiri, Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki and Tūhoe) spent much of his working life at the freezing works but by the time he joined Tūranga Health, he’d already spent a dozen years forming views on shortcomings in the health system.

In 1985 he’d become a security guard at New Zealand's newest health facility, Gisborne Hospital, where he saw things both good and bad.

On the “good” side, he enjoyed spending time in Ward 11, talking and interacting with mental health patients. On the “bad”, he often felt tangata whaiora were not treated with the care and consideration they deserved.

With that as his driving force, Libby's redundancy some years later was turned into a positive when he used his experiences to work with the Health and Disability Commission.

Then he joined Tūranga Health where, as well as serving as kaumātua, he spent six years overseeing the Vanessa Lowndes Centre for whānau with physical and/or mental health issues.

And throughout the years he’s been a passionate family man . . . he and his wife of more than 50 years, Mereaira, have eight children, 12 grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren.

During that time Libby has had his own health problems but Tūranga Health chair Pene Brown says that has not stopped him from making a huge contribution to his community. “His knowledge of people and who their families are, is immense. This aspect is of enormous help to all his Tūranga Health colleagues and especially, Reweti.”

Reweti says Libby opened doors “and gave confidence back to whānau who’d previously had a bad experience in health.”
​
“And he has always been very comfortable in any setting . . . when then-Prime Minister Helen Clark came here once, Libby was the only person she knew.”

​When 28-year-old Reweti Ropiha bounded into Tūranga Health in 1997 he took over a shy fledging company with an opening cash balance of $300 and fewer than 10 clients.

Recently returned from four years of overseas travel, and feeling enlightened, the Rongowhakaata/ Ngai Tamanuhiri tāne was ready to apply himself to new challenges.

“I had a sense that there was an opportunity there, not just for myself, but for the rohe.”

He never dreamed that 22 years later he would be leading a company with a $5 million budget, employing 65 people, and enhancing the lives of over 3,000 whānau every year.

“That’s been half of the attraction of this company, it doesn’t stand still. We’re always looking for new opportunities. I can tell you this is not a space of boredom.”

Reweti grew up in Manutuke, a whāngai son of Wikitoria and Ratu Ropiha. He went to Manutuke School, Lytton High School, and has completed a double degree in politics and business and a Master of Business Administration through Waikato University.

He credits his parents with teaching him about the importance of living within Rongowhakaata and Ngai Tamanuhiri and the connections with whānau.

“It was a simple upbringing, you were there for others and we all shared. We helped people we didn’t necessarily know, but on mum’s and dad’s orders. We followed their approach to common sense. I craved that when I was overseas, and I wanted to help participate in, and restore that, when I came back to Gisborne and started at Tūranga Health.”

Tūranga Health was created at a time of colossal change in the health sector - when community level organisations were playing a greater role in primary health care delivery.

Across the country Māori health providers were flourishing. In Gisborne, Te Runanga o Tūranganui-a-Kiwa created Tūranga Health as its health arm. It was a new kid on the block and very much in the shadow of neighbouring Māori health provider Ngati Porou Hauora.

"“Everything was evolving and we moved very tentatively,” remembers Reweti. “The space was shifting from centralised power bases, to one of using other approaches in the delivery of health services.”
 
“Tūranga Health saw this as an opportunity not to replicate what was existing, but to embrace an approach of wellbeing that would include “kanohi ki te kanohi”, taking the services to the whanau in whatever setting and introducing a wider holistic lens.” 
 
In 1998 Reweti and his small team took the cash-strapped Vanessa Lowndes Centre, where Reweti had once worked, under its wing. By now Tūranga Health had 150 people on its books.

Then it launched the extraordinarily successful Kaumātua Programme.
“Our approach for health service delivery for older people was about keeping whānau in their home for as long as possible. We knew we were only part of the jigsaw, but we saw the need for a place for pākeke to congregate and thrive in the space of wellbeing.”

The Kaumātua Programme is a monthly marae-based gathering for the elderly with a holistic health focus. Transport, activities, service presentations, service connections and socialisation are provided for the region’s precious taonga.

Over the next four years Reweti oversaw Tūranga Health develop its unique approach and style of operating.

In 2002 Tūranga Health took the first in a series of steps that would see it become the large-scale proficient business it is today.  It teamed up with two general practice associations (Pinnacle and First Health) to form Tūranganui Primary Health Organisation (Tūranganui PHO). This model was unique in that the owners were two independent practitioner associations and an iwi health provider.

Aware that the PHO needed a powerful chief executive, Reweti brought in the expertise of the region’s senior expert in primary health, Keriana Brooking, from Tairāwhiti District Health Board.
 
“That was a bold move!” remembers Tūranga Health chairman Pene Brown, who along with Reweti has watched Ms Brooking’s rise in the health sector to become a Deputy Director-General at the Ministry of Health.

Nowadays Tūranga Health boasts a general practice in Te Karaka with 1520 registered patients, over 20 onsite workplace wellness programmes, 1 GP, 12 nurses working alongside whānau in their homes, dozens of community-based health wellness programmes, and 3000 people on its books.

Always one to play down his own involvement, Reweti is pleased that five fellow staff, many he interviewed himself, are being acknowledged for their 20 years of service to Tūranga Health. “This is a chance to celebrate them.”
Reweti wants to acknowledge the good deeds of the many who have contributed to Tūranga Health’s journey.  “There have been countless efforts and contributions - not just my own. We can all stand proud of Tūranga Health.”

When asked about the future of Tūranga Health, the 49-year-old father of three boys, says the windscreen is bigger than the rear vision mirror.

“More than ever Tūranga Health continues to unlock responsive approaches to whānau demand, whereby staff can continue to provide real time care in the communities and homes of whānau.”

Health leaders on Reweti Ropiha

Tūranga Health chairman Pene Brown.
“Reweti has a style that suggests he operates by the seat of his pants, but in reality, he puts a lot of thought into projects.”
“He stays connected with the whānau and when he stands in front of kaumātua they can relate to him. But he’s always thinking of the bigger picture and often talks in global statements.”

Ministry of Health Deputy Director-General Keriana Brooking.
"Like his stature, the contribution that Reweti Ropiha has made to Tūranganui-a-Kiwa has been massive! All of my best achievements and memories of my work in Tairāwhiti have involved Reweti and I can't thank him enough for his never-ending support and wisdom. Every pēpi, tamariki, rangatahi, pakeke, kuia and kaumātua who have received support, care and aroha from Tūranga Health, do so on his watch – congratulations." 
 
Hauora Tairāwhiti chief executive Jim Green.
 Reweti has had an impact on health in Tairāwhiti far beyond his role in Tūranga Health. His knowledge, wisdom, way of working, and sheer enthusiasm has infected us all and caused the championing of so many improvements in health, especially for Māori.
 
This has led Tūranga Health to greater achievements for the whānau and to be a role model for the spread of whānau ora in practice in Tairāwhiti. We all owe a great deal to Reweti Ropiha.
 
 

​A life’s interest in numbers has seen Tūranga Health’s corporate services manager Lisa Tamatea clock up over 20 years with the Māori health provider.

“I do sometimes wonder if this my last financial report but at Tūranga Health there’s always something new on, something exciting, and I’m drawn in again.”

Lisa has always loved number crunching. From her childhood days playing “shops” in Matawai to overseeing Tūranga Health’s $5 million budget, Lisa gets enormous satisfaction from accounting analysis and financial management.

Her background is in book keeping. She was an accounts clerk In the Royal New Zealand Airforce and started a similar job for the Vanessa Lowndes Centre in 1997.

Not long after, the centre was taken under the wing of Tūranga Health which was slowly building in size and scope under the guidance of Reweti Ropiha.

Reweti and Tūranga Health chairman Pene Brown saw potential in Lisa and encouraged her to do tertiary study. After a lot of hard work and lack of sleep Lisa has since earned a diploma in business management, a degree in business with majors in accounting and management, and raised two children with husband Dwayne Tamatea.

Pene has regular meetings with Lisa and has always admired her skills. “Her analytical ability combined with her interpersonal skills stand out…and she’s a really good person as well.”

Outside of work Lisa often throws herself into demanding physical challenges. As well as multi-day running and cycling relay events she’s completed the Oxfam Trail 100km walk and the Spirited Women adventure race.

“Tūranga Health has a long history of walking the talk when it comes to physical fitness,” explains Lisa, who mostly does the events with colleagues.
She and Shirley Keown (who’s also knocked up 20 years at Tūranga Health) have been to some dark places during long arduous physical challenges, but it’s been worth it, she says.

“It’s made us stronger and actually, it’s part of what I love about Tūranga Health. We’re given space to grow whether it’s in the events we do or in our professional development.”

​“I’m really proud of where I work. When the company was young I don’t think we used to celebrate that enough but now, Tūranga Health is an organisation the district can be very proud of.”