PHO collaboration to deliver Regional Workforce Hub in Te Manawa Taki

Two Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) in Te Manawa Taki have been awarded the contract to deliver the Te Manawa Taki Workforce Hub. Funded by Health New Zealand, Pinnacle Midlands Health Network will hold the contract and co-lead the Hub with Te Puna Hauora Matua o Hauraki (Hauraki PHO). This model reflects a shared commitment to equity, co-governance and a focus on Māori and rural workforces. 

The Hub responds to the Government Policy Statement on Health 2024-2027 and the Minister’s Letter of Expectations (2025), both of which call for closer collaboration across PHOs, general practice and hospital services.  The government priorities to deliver access to quality and timely primary health care are dependent on supporting the capacity and capability of the workforce, evolving models of care and enabling access to enhanced care in the primary and community setting. 

The Hub will continue working with the region’s PHOs, general practices and community providers to strengthen primary and community care access through enabling the workforce development of primary and community teams, with a focus on services that support harder to reach communities such as in rural settings.  Co-led by Taima Campbell (Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Kiriwera), Chief Executive of Te Puna Hauora Matua o Hauraki I Hauraki PHO and Justin Butcher, Chief Executive at Pinnacle, both bring strong clinical backgrounds alongside extensive leadership experience in workforce development and primary care. 

“It will come as no surprise that supporting our Kaiāwhina workforce is a key priority for us”, says Taima Campbell. “There is growing recognition of the importance of whānau ora workers, health navigators, kaimanaaki and hauora support roles who make up the Kaiāwhina workforce. This opportunity will enable us to design a strong pathway for this part of our workforce recognising the contribution these workers make through Te Ao Māori knowledge, cultural safety, whānau engagement, navigation, and wraparound support.”

Justin says the Hub will build on existing work across the region and strengthen coordination. “We will work closely with PHOs, practices and community providers to plan services that reflect local needs, workforce pressures and community priorities, while finding opportunities to share resources and increase support to the frontline.  We welcome this investment in building strong, flexible and sustainable workforces across the region, and nationally.”

What this means for practices and community providers
Initially, the Hub will support:

• national workforce programmes (including early career nurses and doctors)

• expanding interdisciplinary training practices and clinics

• unregulated workforce training, including growing and supporting the Kaiāwhina workforce

• using data to inform workforce planning

• building general practice knowledge around information sharing, security and cyber risk

• expanding PRIME training access for rural and remote clinicians

• coordinating access to workforce development funding.

It’s anticipated that further primary and community workforce initiatives will be supported by the Hub over time. 

Upcoming funding opportunity for planned care training

The first initiative being led by the Hub is distributing funding to support GPs working in primary and community setting to access planned care related training funds.  GPs can apply for funding to undertake training so they can deliver more planned care services in the community, including procedures that would otherwise be provided in hospital.

Funding can be used for:

• course fees

• backfill or locum cover

• travel and accommodation (where needed)

The aim is to build capability in general practice so more care can be delivered closer to home, improving access for patients and helping reduce pressure on hospitals.  GPs across Te Manawa Taki are encouraged to apply via an EOI which will be released shortly.  Further details are available on the website at pinnacle.co.nz/news/te-manawa-taki-workforce-hub  

Justin Butcher                                                               Taima Campbell                                   

Kaiwhakatere | Chief Executive Officer                    Manukura Hauora | CEO

Pinnacle Midlands Health Network                            Hauraki PHO