Safe Raumati Wishes, CEO Announcement and Update
Ngā mihi mahana o te raumati ki a koe i tēnei wā whakahirahira. Kia kitea koe e tēnei īmēra e rite ana ki te pārekareka ki tētahi wā whakatā Kirihimete me tō whānau, he tino tika hoki nā te mea ko te mahi hauora he wāhi hurihuri tonu, he tino hira hoki hei arotahi i ā tātou kaha.
As the year draws to a close, thank you for your guidance, input and the inspiration you have provided to Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance in 2025. We want to keep you updated on our mahi and direction ahead of the new year.
He Tumu Hou Leadership Update
The Board is pleased to confirm the appointment of Katarina Gordon (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu) as the permanent Pou Whakarae, Chief Executive of EBPHA. Katarina has served in the interim role over the past year, guiding the organisation through sector shifts and strengthening relationships with practices, iwi providers, and community partners.
She brings deep experience in Māori health leadership, system delivery, and kaupapa-driven change, along with experience across Māori health, mental health, whānau wellbeing, and community-led service design, spanning Kaupapa Māori health, government, and primary care. Known for her commitment to outcomes for mokopuna and whānau, Katarina leads in a way that strengthens trust, relationships, and local decision-making. Her leadership will continue to support a steady, values-aligned pathway forward.
To Tātou Aronga Our Role and Direction
EBPHA remains committed to being a locally focused, culturally anchored alliance to enable accessible, equitable care across Te Moana-a-Toi. As the national PHO landscape shifts, our priority remains steadfast to mahitahi and increase resources to front-line primary and community health care, in a way that is authentically-led by the practices and communities we serve.
Four pillars continue to guide our mahi:
-
being trusted by local communities and stakeholders
- supporting strong, high-quality clinical care
- putting funding and decision-making closer to whānau
-
staying intricately connected to our rural communities.
Ngā Whakatutukitanga o te Tau Key Achievements this Year
-
Flexible Funding Plan – We have focused on more pūtea flowing directly to Practices
-
After-Hours Care – Co-designed approaches in Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne with a unified vision, to create a primary care system that is equitable, resilient, and responsive to the whānau we serve.
-
Provider Support Strengthened – Stronger support, monitoring and transparency across the rohe.
Te Tiro Whakamua Looking Ahead to 2026
Our priorities include:
- providing stability through the leadership transition
- strengthening support for practices and providers
- deepening iwi-Māori provider partnerships
- exploring commissioning approaches that move resources closer to whānau
-
preparing for permanent governance structures in 2026.
Ko te manawataki o te hapori te ara e kawe ana i te ora. Ngā Manaakitanga o te Wā!
Wishing you and your Whānau a safe raumati.
Kirsty Maxwell-Crawford
Interim Board Chair
Eastern Bay Primary Health Alliance