9 Jul 2012

Leaders acknowledged at health summit

7:31 pm on 9 July 2012

Maori health providers including existing and emerging leaders are to be acknowledged at the Toitu Hauora Maori Leadership in Health Summit.

The biennial summit near Upper Hutt is being hosted by the Henry Rongomau Bennett Foundation, with support from Te Rau Matatini - the national Maori health workforce development organisation.

Te Rau Matatini director Nicola Ehau says the theme of the hui is "What changes on Monday?" and is about giving Maori health workers the inspiration to find sustainable ways to make a difference in their various sectors and disciplines.

She says it will be exciting to see what happens after the summit finishes on Tuesday, when close to 100 people will go home armed with a plan they can implement to make a difference in their own environment.

Ms Ehau says the same group will meet again in two years to see what they managed to change to make a positive difference in the health sector.

The programme brings together various leadership groups including rangatahi scholarships and an international leadership development programme.

The Henry Rongomau Bennett Excellence Awards will be presented on Monday evening. These include the Bob Henare and Harry Pitman Awards, as well as a new award, named Ta Tatou Mahere Korowai for Maori health providers who are engaging rangatahi groups to advise their service.