Consumer opportunities Tā te kiritaki whai wāhi
Read more about the current open opportunities for consumers to get involved.
We support consumers being actively involved in decision-making about their health, at all levels.
Health services, including hospitals, government agencies and other services, require consumer representatives to co-design the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of health services.
Below are the current open opportunities for consumers to get involved.
Please note we publish these opportunities on behalf of a range of different agencies and groups in the health sector. Please contact each provider directly using the information provided in the listing.
Do you have an opportunity you think Consumer health forum Aotearoa members should know about?
If so, please submit an expression of interest for consumer and whānau representatives.
Current opportunities
The Ministry of Health is asking for your feedback on the draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (the Strategy).
Public feedback is open until 18 May 2026
More information about the consultation is available on the Ministry of Health website.
Consultation on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy | Ministry of Health NZ
Seeking participants who have engaged with oral health services in New Zealand.
Leeann Waaka, PhD candidate at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, is seeking participants for her doctoral research project: policy, education, practice and consumer experience may help shape a more equitable, balanced and culturally grounded oral health system in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The research is supervised and is supported through the School of Indigenous Graduate Studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
The participants
Participants should have engaged with, or attempted to engage with, oral health services in Aotearoa New Zealand. Participants’ involvement is highly valued, as lived experience and insights will contribute to a greater understanding of how the oral health system is currently experienced by those it is intended to serve.
People of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to take part.
Māori participants with lived experience are especially encouraged to participate, as these perspectives are vital to understanding how oral health services can better uphold equity, cultural responsiveness and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.
What’s involved
Each participant will be asked to take part in a short online survey.
Participants can request a summary of the research findings if they wish.
More about the research and how to get involved
If you are interested in participating, please email: leeann.waaka76@gmail.com
Closes Thursday 14 May 2026.
We’re inviting you to be part of a national project to improve recovery for people after major trauma, such as those who have sustained brain, chest or spinal cord injuries, multiple limb fractures and amputations.
Why this matters
Many people who leave hospital after a major trauma don’t receive the support they need to recover well. This is especially true for Māori and Pacific peoples, who face more barriers to accessing rehabilitation and recovery services. We want to change that.
This project – The path of making things right: Te ara whakatika – is about making sure everyone (no matter where they live or who they are) receives the right care, at the right time, in the right way. It’s led by the Trauma National Clinical Network, in partnership with Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, ACC and Health Quality & Safety Commission Te Tāhū Hauora.
What we’re doing
We’re working with trauma services, rehabilitation providers, kaupapa Māori services, patients (tūroro), and whānau to co-design better support after injury.
Together, we will listen to your experiences and local knowledge to:
- strengthen services using Māori models of health (hauora)
- focus on what matters most to patients and whānau
- build solutions that are community-led and culturally grounded.
Why we need patients and whānau
Your experience matters, and we welcome your involvement. As a patient or whānau member, we invite you to apply to join the project. Opportunities to engage include:
- advising local project teams to help shape services that truly reflect what people need after trauma by sharing ideas and giving feedback to teams
- joining the expert advisory group alongside clinicians, advisors and consumers that guide the project strategy and support project findings into widespread system improvement. The group is a safe space where the unique contributions of all members are recognised and respected
- sharing your experience of serious injury as a patient or whānau member, either positive or negative.
You don’t need any special training for these roles, just a willingness to share your story and tell us what works well and where improvements could be made. Your voice will help make care more respectful, accessible, and effective for others.
Payment
You will be paid for your time. We follow the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission guidelines about how much to pay members of advisory groups.
Policy for consumer and whānau engagement fees and reimbursement
How to apply
- To express your interest or to learn more email us at help@majortrauma.nz
- First learning session: 25 February 2026 (one of three online learning sessions we plan to hold throughout the year).
Let’s work together to make recovery better for everyone.
Read more about the project: The path of making things right: Te ara whakatika
Have you had a broken hip or cared for someone with a broken hip?
The Australia and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry (the Registry) collects information about what happens to older people who break their hip, both during their time at hospital and when they go home. This information is used to improve the hospital care for people who break their hip.
The Registry is looking for people to join their National Governance Committee.
The participants
Consumers and whānau should have experience with a hip fracture or caring for a person with a hip fracture.
What’s involved
The NZ Hip Fracture Registry is looking for consumers to:
- join their national committee;
- tell their story to share in print and video at education conferences;
- link with other consumers in New Zealand and Australia via online Zoom catch-ups.
More about this opportunity and how to get involved
Read the EOI – Join the New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry Consumer Movement (PDF 107KB)
Read more information and complete the EOI form
To express your interest, email nicola@nzoa.org.nz
EOI: Ministry of Health consultation on the mental health and wellbeing strategy
The Ministry of Health is asking for your feedback on the draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (the Strategy).
Public feedback is open until 18 May 2026
More information about the consultation is available on the Ministry of Health website.
Consultation on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy | Ministry of Health NZ
EOI: Take part in research on Oranga Niho – Restoring balance to the oral health system
Seeking participants who have engaged with oral health services in New Zealand.
Leeann Waaka, PhD candidate at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, is seeking participants for her doctoral research project: policy, education, practice and consumer experience may help shape a more equitable, balanced and culturally grounded oral health system in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The research is supervised and is supported through the School of Indigenous Graduate Studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
The participants
Participants should have engaged with, or attempted to engage with, oral health services in Aotearoa New Zealand. Participants’ involvement is highly valued, as lived experience and insights will contribute to a greater understanding of how the oral health system is currently experienced by those it is intended to serve.
People of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to take part.
Māori participants with lived experience are especially encouraged to participate, as these perspectives are vital to understanding how oral health services can better uphold equity, cultural responsiveness and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.
What’s involved
Each participant will be asked to take part in a short online survey.
Participants can request a summary of the research findings if they wish.
More about the research and how to get involved
If you are interested in participating, please email: leeann.waaka76@gmail.com
Closes Thursday 14 May 2026.
EOI: Join 'The path of making things right: Te ara whakatika' quality improvement project
We’re inviting you to be part of a national project to improve recovery for people after major trauma, such as those who have sustained brain, chest or spinal cord injuries, multiple limb fractures and amputations.
Why this matters
Many people who leave hospital after a major trauma don’t receive the support they need to recover well. This is especially true for Māori and Pacific peoples, who face more barriers to accessing rehabilitation and recovery services. We want to change that.
This project – The path of making things right: Te ara whakatika – is about making sure everyone (no matter where they live or who they are) receives the right care, at the right time, in the right way. It’s led by the Trauma National Clinical Network, in partnership with Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, ACC and Health Quality & Safety Commission Te Tāhū Hauora.
What we’re doing
We’re working with trauma services, rehabilitation providers, kaupapa Māori services, patients (tūroro), and whānau to co-design better support after injury.
Together, we will listen to your experiences and local knowledge to:
- strengthen services using Māori models of health (hauora)
- focus on what matters most to patients and whānau
- build solutions that are community-led and culturally grounded.
Why we need patients and whānau
Your experience matters, and we welcome your involvement. As a patient or whānau member, we invite you to apply to join the project. Opportunities to engage include:
- advising local project teams to help shape services that truly reflect what people need after trauma by sharing ideas and giving feedback to teams
- joining the expert advisory group alongside clinicians, advisors and consumers that guide the project strategy and support project findings into widespread system improvement. The group is a safe space where the unique contributions of all members are recognised and respected
- sharing your experience of serious injury as a patient or whānau member, either positive or negative.
You don’t need any special training for these roles, just a willingness to share your story and tell us what works well and where improvements could be made. Your voice will help make care more respectful, accessible, and effective for others.
Payment
You will be paid for your time. We follow the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission guidelines about how much to pay members of advisory groups.
Policy for consumer and whānau engagement fees and reimbursement
How to apply
- To express your interest or to learn more email us at help@majortrauma.nz
- First learning session: 25 February 2026 (one of three online learning sessions we plan to hold throughout the year).
Let’s work together to make recovery better for everyone.
Read more about the project: The path of making things right: Te ara whakatika
EOI: Join the New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry
Have you had a broken hip or cared for someone with a broken hip?
The Australia and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry (the Registry) collects information about what happens to older people who break their hip, both during their time at hospital and when they go home. This information is used to improve the hospital care for people who break their hip.
The Registry is looking for people to join their National Governance Committee.
The participants
Consumers and whānau should have experience with a hip fracture or caring for a person with a hip fracture.
What’s involved
The NZ Hip Fracture Registry is looking for consumers to:
- join their national committee;
- tell their story to share in print and video at education conferences;
- link with other consumers in New Zealand and Australia via online Zoom catch-ups.
More about this opportunity and how to get involved
Read the EOI – Join the New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry Consumer Movement (PDF 107KB)
Read more information and complete the EOI form
To express your interest, email nicola@nzoa.org.nz
Consumer opportunity case studies
These consumer engagement stories describe how consumers have responded to opportunities promoted with the Consumer health forum Aotearoa. Consumers share their experience of the application process, onboarding and their contribution to the work. We hope these stories encourage others to use their lived experience and skills to contribute to the design, development, delivery and evaluation of the health system.
System safety strategy rōpū
Ngā Reo Māhuri Young Voices group
FIT for symptomatic project
Published: 16 Sep 2022
Modified: 6 Oct 2025
