New General Manager Māori Health and Director Iwi Relationships Welcomed
On Friday 14 May, Northland DHB welcomed our new General Manager Māori Health, Dr Moana Tane and Director Iwi Relationships, Peter Thomas at Te Puna o Te Matauranga marae on NorthTec's Raumanga campus. 
Moana is Te Rōroa with associations to Ngāti Korokoro, Ngāti Wharara and Ngāti Hine (Ngāpuhi-Nui -Tonu) and grew up in the Kaipara. She is also strongly connected to Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri and Ngāti Kahu in the Far North.
She has extensive executive management experience across various complex health organisations, including Primary Health, Public Health and Social Service. She has also worked within Indigenous Australian not-for-profits.
Moana has a history of advocacy in Māori tobacco control and was National Māori Health Manager of PHARMAC and, later, Chief Executive of Te Hotu Manawa Māori.
More recently, Moana worked in the Australian health system employed in several Aboriginal Health Services, a large social services organisation, and undertook health research with two large national universities.
Moana has a Bachelor of Education (Teaching), Master of Public Health (first class Honours) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Indigenous Health). She undertook her PhD in Indigenous Health to anchor her career in Māori and indigenous health equity.
While an academic path was open to her, Moana chose to work in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Most recently in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in the Gibson Desert, and has a strong understanding of health equity.
Coming home to Te Tai Tokerau will allow her to use her expertise to support us achieve equitable Māori health outcomes and contribute to our exciting future.
Peter was recently the Operations Manager for Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services. His career has been focused on Māori equity with a particular emphasis on health, although he has worked in Auckland Council roles.
Peter has spent time in Māori Policy, Mental Health, health promotion and contract management roles with Capital and Coast DHB, Ministry of Health, PHOs, Māori Public Health, Ngāti Hine Health Trust. His first job was with Hokianga Health. He has had previous roles up to General Manager and has managed organisations of up to 100 staff.
Peter will assist Moana in strengthening iwi relationships to give effect to our Article 2 Te Tiriti commitment to partnership. The role will support and, where appropriate, develop and provide DHB leadership in working with Te Kāhu o Taonui when presenting to or participating in iwi leadership fora. In conjunction with Waitemata and Auckland DHBs, this role will support Kōtui Hauora, the Northern DHB - Iwi Chairs Forum, to develop various joint initiatives.
He will also support Moana's work with Māori Health Providers.
Both Moana and Peter will be members of our Executive Leadership Team.
Last modified: