Close

Te Whare Taumata o Hapori Taiwhenua o Aotearoa

Rural Communities Aotearoa
Become a member

Te Whare Taumata o Hapori Taiwhenua o Aotearoa aim to promote and encourage the active involvement of all organisations within a rural health and wellbeing focus. 

About Us

We work with our members to identify priority needs in rural health and promote actions to be taken.

We support research in identifying key issues in rural health, develop knowledge about them and disseminate relevant information to those with an interest in rural health.

Our work involves promoting and encouraging the coordination of the training and education requirements of the rural health workforce.

We aim to provide feedback to government and local authorities on the health impact of policies and services in rural communities to ensure rural and locality proofing principles are applied and reported on.

Our goal is to provide effective representation and leadership on rural community health and wellbeing issues.

By collaborating with other groups, we will develop and strengthen strategic alliances with the potential to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

Executive Committee

Gill Genet

Chair

Gill champions workforce development and through workforce, making a difference to the lives of whānau, families and communities in Aotearoa. 

In her day job, Gill manages System Capability for National Emergency Management Agency, professionalising and building the emergency management workforce in Aotearoa.   

Gill is a strong advocate for enhancing rural wellbeing and believes in whanaungatanga, building relationships and working collaboratively. Her approach is to build on strengths and share solutions. She brings extensive experience in fostering collaboration and partnerships between communities and elected stakeholders. 

Bill Eschenbach

Board Member Canterbury

Bill is currently the Chief Executive of Waitaha PHO. Prior to this role, he was a Client Manager with South Link Health where he was responsible for rolling out Primary Health Organisations in the upper South Island.  

Having developed strong community linkages with a number of organisations including Territorial Local Authorities, Bill brings experience in forging partnerships which support the continuation of rural and remote rural primary care services through the developments of community networks. 

Bill brings a strong business acumen and depth of experience to rural communities through strong stakeholder relationships with Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury Alliance, Ministry of Health, New Zealand Rural General Practice Network, National Rural Health Advisory Group, St John Ambulance, Whanau Groups and most recently Hauora Taiwhenau. 

Denise Irvine

Helen Slattery

Mark Eager

Board Member Christchurch

Mark is the Chief Executive of Mobile Health and with his team is responsible for providing elective day surgery via the Mobile Surgical Unit – Te Waka Hauora, running My Health Hub providing continuing professional development for health practitioners and operating the NZ Telehealth Resource Centre.  

With a strong focus on providing health services to rural communities through his work, Mark is a strong advocate improving equity of access to healthcare for rural New Zealanders.   

Mark brings to Rural Communities decades of expertise and understanding of how to achieve effective collaboration with entities such as Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health, Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ, and Primary Care Organisations. 

Craig Young

Chief Executive TUANZ

Craig Young is the CEO of TUANZ, the Technology Users Association of New Zealand, an independent member-based organisation which educates and advocates for all users of technology and connectivity across New Zealand.  

Craig has been involved in New Zealand’s technology and telecommunications industry since joining CLEAR Communications in 1999. In his previous role at Chorus, Craig led the multilateral engagement with industry stakeholders and customers.  He was heavily involved in providing leadership in several industry sectors including Chorus’ rural broadband commitments and was responsible for the RBI Advisory Committee. 

Sandra Matthews

Sharon Wards

Colin Hannah

Paul Hopkins

Relevant news

The Importance of Rural Socializing for Mental Health: A Winter Focus

Mental health continues to be a pressing concern worldwide, with anxiety and depression frequently cited as prevalent issues. Various factors influence mental well-being, and one often overlooked aspect is the impact of seasonal changes, particularly winter, on rural communities. While winter can paint a picturesque scene of snow-covered landscapes and cozy fireside gatherings, the reality for many in rural areas is often less idyllic. The harsh weather conditions, ongoing farm work, and seasonal illnesses can contribute to a sense of isolation and strain. In this context, socializing becomes not just a leisure activity but a vital component of mental health management. This article explores how rural socializing, especially during the winter months, plays a crucial role in maintaining mental health and highlights two successful initiatives that exemplify the benefits of community engagement.

An Amazing example of Communities pulling together

Rural communities pull together in tough times. The story below illustrates this. At approximately 8.38 am on 18th July at Lake Pukaki, near Twizel, two buses were travelling in convoy, as they transported a group of Chinese tourists to their next destination. Both buses rolled on black ice and tipped over. The fog that morning was heavy, resulting in low visibility.  This section of the road is notorious for its occasionally dangerous road conditions. Many accidents have occurred with drivers either not aware of the treacherous conditions or not paying close attention to the conditions. There were both adults and children on the buses. The group had come over to attend the World Choir Games in Auckland

New nationwide telehealth service launched to support rural communities

Ka Ora Telecare, a new telehealth service offering after hours health support for people living rurally, celebrated its nationwide launch in November. Three existing telehealth providers, Reach Aotearoa, Practice Plus and Emergency Consult, have come together to form Ka Ora. Ka Ora was awarded the contract from Te Whatu Ora following an RFP process earlier in 2023. With each business already operating in telehealth, the bidding team could draw on their expertise and processes in order to be able to quickly scale up to a new nationwide after hours and overflow model.