Diabetes is a leading cause of death and health loss in Aotearoa New Zealand. It has increased at the highest rate of any condition over the past decade. In Aotearoa, this harm is felt most acutely and inequitably in our Māori, Pacific, Indian and disabled communities.

The Diabetes National Clinical Network Mahitahi Matehuka is dedicated to addressing these inequities and improving the care and outcomes for all whānau with diabetes. We aim to:

  • reduce health inequities by focusing on the communities most affected by diabetes
  • enhance diabetes care through collaboration and innovation in healthcare practices
  • support healthcare professionals by providing resources, training, and a platform for sharing best practices
  • empower whānau with diabetes by ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met.

Together, we can make a significant impact on diabetes care and outcomes across Aotearoa.

Establishing the network is a key recommendation in the draft National Diabetes Action Plan.

Network members

Name Role Region Location

Rawiri McKree Jansen 

Co-Lead for National Diabetes Network 

Northern 

Auckland 

Ryan Paul 

Co-Lead for National Diabetes Network 

Te Manawa Taki 

Waikato 

Soana Muimuiheata 

Dietitian 

Northern 

Auckland 

Tutangi Amataiti 

Dietitian/Allied Professional Lead 

Central 

Wellington 

Jo McClintock 

Clinical Psychologist 

Te Manawa Taki 

Waikato 

Jennifer-Kaye Fletcher 

Midwife/Improvement Programme Manager 

Northern 

Auckland 

Luana Penese 

Nurse/Whanau voice 

Wellington

Central

Cate Fleckney 

Nurse Practitioner 

Te Wai Pounamu 

Christchurch 

Lorraine Brooking 

GP/Rural Health 

Northern 

Northland 

Wing Cheuk Chan 

Public Health 

Northern 

Auckland 

Brendon McIntosh 

Pharmacist 

Te Wai Pounamu 

Dunedin 

Rosemary Hall 

Endocrinologist/ Senior lecturer, University of Otago 

Central 

Wellington 

Glenn Doherty 

GP/Pacific Health 

Northern 

Auckland 

Lily Fraser 

GP/Māori Health 

Northern 

Auckland 

Tracy Mihare-Hutchins 

Kaiaawhina 

Te Manawa Taki 

Hastings 

Christopher Rewi-Werini 

Podiatrist 

Northern 

Auckland 

Meet the co leads

Rawiri McKree Jansen (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hinerangi)

Rawiri McKree Jansen (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hinerangi)

Formerly a resource teacher of the Māori language, Rawiri completed his medical training at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland in 2000. As a General Practitioner he has served high needs communities working in communities across the East Coast, Waikato, Auckland and Northland. Concurrently, Rawiri continued his commitment to support education by leading and influencing Te Reo and Tikanga Māori programmes for Māori health professionals throughout the country for several years. Rawiri has extensive experience in health leadership and governance, holding positions as Chair of Te 
Ohu Rata o Aotearoa (Maori Medical Practitioners Association) and Te Ataarangi Trust (a national Māori language organisation). He was previously Clinical Director for National Hauora Coalition.

Ryan Paul (Ngāti Maru, Hauraki)

Ryan Paul (Ngāti Maru, Hauraki)

Ryan is a well-respected endocrinologist and diabetologist from Waikato. With his clinical expertise, Ryan has many leadership roles including being the immediate Past-President of the New Zealand Society of Endocrinology (NZSE), President Elect of the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) and Clinical Director of the Waikato Diabetes Service. He also has many national clinical advisory roles including for Manatū Hauora, PHARMAC, HQSC, Health Pathways, Healthify, and has been working with Te Whatu Ora in developing the National Diabetes Action Plan. Ryan has key roles in teaching including establishing New Zealand’s first Advanced Diabetes Management Course. Ryan is very active in diabetes and endocrinology research and is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Waikato and a Clinical Associate of the Maurice Wilkins Centre. His current research primarily focuses on reducing inequities for Māori and Pacific peoples with diabetes, and diabetes and technology.

Diabetes co-leads Rawiri McKree Jansen (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hinerangi) and Ryan Paul (Ngāti Maru, Hauraki) seen here with other co-leads and members of the networks oversight group and project support team. Diabetes co-leads Rawiri McKree Jansen (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hinerangi) and Ryan Paul (Ngāti Maru, Hauraki) seen here with other co-leads and members of the networks oversight group and project support team. Diabetes co-leads Rawiri McKree Jansen (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hinerangi) and Ryan Paul (Ngāti Maru, Hauraki) seen here with other co-leads and members of the networks oversight group and project support team.

Diabetes co-leads Rawiri McKree Jansen (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hinerangi) and Ryan Paul (Ngāti Maru, Hauraki) seen here with other co-leads and members of the networks oversight group and project support team.

Diabetes co-leads Rawiri McKree Jansen (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Hinerangi) and Ryan Paul (Ngāti Maru, Hauraki) seen here with other co-leads and members of the networks oversight group and project support team.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Diabetes National Clinical Network, please email diabetesnetwork@tewhatuora.govt.nz