Pictured from left to right: John Whaanga (Deputy Director-General, Māori Health), Riana Manuel (CEO, Te Aka Whai Ora, Maori Health Authority), Dame Dr Karen Poutasi (Board Chair, Te Whatu Ora), Emma Wyeth (Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki) and Donna Matahaere-Atariki (Te Rūnanga ō Ōtākou).

Manatū Hauora, Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora have re-signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, marking their commitment to designing, building and operating the New Dunedin Hospital as an inclusive facility.

We want to build true, practical and effective Te Tiriti o Waitangi-based relationships with Māori to improve Māori health outcomes and address Māori health inequities. Mana whenua’s integral involvement with the design of the New Dunedin Hospital embodies this.

The MoU is intended to ensure the New Dunedin Hospital is successfully built through:

  • Effective partnership around customary and intended use of the land
  • Cultural awareness and knowledge of whānau-centric services within building design standards
  • Effective engagement with whānau, hapū Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Māori groups
  • Active partnership with mana whenua to find opportunities during planning and delivery to enhance mana whenua wellbeing, health and social outcomes.

To help reflect these goals our cultural narrative partner, Aukaha, provided the project with a working title, Whakatuputupu, to help inform and guide the design aesthetic, environmental performance and user functionality of the new hospital across the design phases.