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 Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) Northern Regional Consumer Council (RCC) wants to strengthen the voices of consumers and whānau within the health system. We want to make sure that lived experiences can help shape decisions and improvements in health care services.
We are seeking a rangatahi/youth consumer representative to bring their lived experience and unique viewpoint to the table.
Who we're looking for
We are looking for a rangatahi/youth representative, between 16 and 24 years old, who:
- is currently engaging or has recently engaged with the health system for their own general or mental health or as a support for someone else
- is based in the Northern Region (Te Tai Tokerau / Northland, Auckland, Waitematā / West Auckland, Counties Manukau) and has strong connections with communities and rangatahi/youth networks in the region
- wants to improve health equity and outcomes for rangatahi/youth
- is comfortable speaking up and sharing their views constructively in moderated discussions to shape and improve health care services in Aotearoa
- can work well with health professionals like doctors and other members of advisory or steering groups
- has reliable access to the internet to be able to attend online meetings.
Requirements
The Northern RCC meets online the second Monday of every month, 2:30pm–4:30pm, except January when the council takes a break. It also meets in-person once a year for a full day hui and workshop.
Members are paid in line with the Health NZ consumer reimbursement policy:
- $60 per hour per person for meeting attendance and the equivalent of half a meeting’s time for preparation (That is, for a 2-hour meeting, members would be reimbursed $180 to cover the 2 hours of the meeting and 1 hour of meeting preparation.)
- An annual learning and development budget of $500 per person
- Reimbursement for approved expenses (for example, transport costs to get to the annual hui in Auckland).
If you are interested in applying, please email northern.rcc@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Applications close: 12 noon Monday 9 November 2026
Loupa is a privately owned New Zealand patient information and referral-support platform. It is designed to help patients and whānau better understand:
- why they are being referred for specialist care
- what to expect from the referral process
- what they can do while waiting for their referral
- when to seek further help.
The platform is being developed by surgeon and medical educator Dr Tom Hanna and is intended for use across both public and private health care settings.
We are looking for consumers who can provide input and review our patient-facing information to ensure the information is:
- clear
- useful
- culturally appropriate
- easy to work through.
The initial focus is on surgical referral and patient education pathways for hernia and gallbladder care.
The hernia guide must be suitable for use across public and private health care providers.
We are currently looking at an example platform that is used at Compass Surgical, a general and vascular surgical care clinic in Auckland. However, the aim is to develop a format and approach that can be adapted for wider use.
Consumer feedback will help shape:
- language used
- layout and accessibility of the resources
- information covered
- overall patient experience.
Once we have taken on board the consumer feedback, we’re aiming to expand the model to cover more conditions and providers.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking consumer and whānau input to ensure we include the patient’s perspective as we develop the patient information and referral-support platform.
We would like to involve approximately four to six consumers, ideally with a range of experiences of referral, outpatient specialist care or elective surgery. We want to find out whether the information feels understandable, relevant, respectful and useful from a patient or whānau perspective.
We are particularly keen to include Māori and Pacific perspectives in the design process.
Participants do not need any medical or technical knowledge.
How feedback will be used
Feedback from this review will help improve the clarity, accessibility and usefulness of Loupa’s patient information.
Individual participants will not be identified without their permission.
This review is focused on the patient and whānau experience of using the hernia guide.
Who is currently involved in the platform’s development
The platform development project is led by Dr Tom Hanna, a specialist surgeon and medical educator in Auckland and founder of Loupa.
The development also involves specialist clinicians, GPs, practice staff and other health care professionals who review the clinical content and referral pathways.
The requirements
Consumer participants will review a Loupa patient guide online and complete a short feedback questionnaire. This should take approximately 10 minutes.
Participants who complete the review will receive a $50 koha, paid to a nominated bank account.
In some cases, participants may be invited to take part in a separate follow-up conversation to explore feedback in more detail. Participation in any follow-up discussion would be entirely optional and arranged separately.
The review is not a co-design process, governance role, cultural advisory role or lived-experience advisory position. Should future opportunities arise for more substantial consumer participation, lived-experience expertise, cultural advice or co-design activities, these would be scoped and discussed separately, with appropriate recognition and remuneration.
Link to the first review
Please remember to include a contact email address at the bottom of the review.
Closing date for providing an initial review is 5pm Wednesday 25 November.
Please send any questions to thanna@adhb.govt.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
Complete the survey (Google forms) PhD Research What is required to balance the oral health system within Aotearoa
If you have any questions, please email: leeann.waaka76@gmail.com
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: Youth voice for the Northern Regional Consumer Council – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
The Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) Northern Regional Consumer Council (RCC) wants to strengthen the voices of consumers and whānau within the health system. We want to make sure that lived experiences can help shape decisions and improvements in health care services.
We are seeking a rangatahi/youth consumer representative to bring their lived experience and unique viewpoint to the table.
Who we're looking for
We are looking for a rangatahi/youth representative, between 16 and 24 years old, who:
- is currently engaging or has recently engaged with the health system for their own general or mental health or as a support for someone else
- is based in the Northern Region (Te Tai Tokerau / Northland, Auckland, Waitematā / West Auckland, Counties Manukau) and has strong connections with communities and rangatahi/youth networks in the region
- wants to improve health equity and outcomes for rangatahi/youth
- is comfortable speaking up and sharing their views constructively in moderated discussions to shape and improve health care services in Aotearoa
- can work well with health professionals like doctors and other members of advisory or steering groups
- has reliable access to the internet to be able to attend online meetings.
Requirements
The Northern RCC meets online the second Monday of every month, 2:30pm–4:30pm, except January when the council takes a break. It also meets in-person once a year for a full day hui and workshop.
Members are paid in line with the Health NZ consumer reimbursement policy:
- $60 per hour per person for meeting attendance and the equivalent of half a meeting’s time for preparation (That is, for a 2-hour meeting, members would be reimbursed $180 to cover the 2 hours of the meeting and 1 hour of meeting preparation.)
- An annual learning and development budget of $500 per person
- Reimbursement for approved expenses (for example, transport costs to get to the annual hui in Auckland).
If you are interested in applying, please email northern.rcc@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Applications close: 12 noon Monday 9 November 2026
EOI: Seeking consumer input into a patient information and referral-support platform
Loupa is a privately owned New Zealand patient information and referral-support platform. It is designed to help patients and whānau better understand:
- why they are being referred for specialist care
- what to expect from the referral process
- what they can do while waiting for their referral
- when to seek further help.
The platform is being developed by surgeon and medical educator Dr Tom Hanna and is intended for use across both public and private health care settings.
We are looking for consumers who can provide input and review our patient-facing information to ensure the information is:
- clear
- useful
- culturally appropriate
- easy to work through.
The initial focus is on surgical referral and patient education pathways for hernia and gallbladder care.
The hernia guide must be suitable for use across public and private health care providers.
We are currently looking at an example platform that is used at Compass Surgical, a general and vascular surgical care clinic in Auckland. However, the aim is to develop a format and approach that can be adapted for wider use.
Consumer feedback will help shape:
- language used
- layout and accessibility of the resources
- information covered
- overall patient experience.
Once we have taken on board the consumer feedback, we’re aiming to expand the model to cover more conditions and providers.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking consumer and whānau input to ensure we include the patient’s perspective as we develop the patient information and referral-support platform.
We would like to involve approximately four to six consumers, ideally with a range of experiences of referral, outpatient specialist care or elective surgery. We want to find out whether the information feels understandable, relevant, respectful and useful from a patient or whānau perspective.
We are particularly keen to include Māori and Pacific perspectives in the design process.
Participants do not need any medical or technical knowledge.
How feedback will be used
Feedback from this review will help improve the clarity, accessibility and usefulness of Loupa’s patient information.
Individual participants will not be identified without their permission.
This review is focused on the patient and whānau experience of using the hernia guide.
Who is currently involved in the platform’s development
The platform development project is led by Dr Tom Hanna, a specialist surgeon and medical educator in Auckland and founder of Loupa.
The development also involves specialist clinicians, GPs, practice staff and other health care professionals who review the clinical content and referral pathways.
The requirements
Consumer participants will review a Loupa patient guide online and complete a short feedback questionnaire. This should take approximately 10 minutes.
Participants who complete the review will receive a $50 koha, paid to a nominated bank account.
In some cases, participants may be invited to take part in a separate follow-up conversation to explore feedback in more detail. Participation in any follow-up discussion would be entirely optional and arranged separately.
The review is not a co-design process, governance role, cultural advisory role or lived-experience advisory position. Should future opportunities arise for more substantial consumer participation, lived-experience expertise, cultural advice or co-design activities, these would be scoped and discussed separately, with appropriate recognition and remuneration.
Link to the first review
Please remember to include a contact email address at the bottom of the review.
Closing date for providing an initial review is 5pm Wednesday 25 November.
Please send any questions to thanna@adhb.govt.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
Complete the survey (Google forms) PhD Research What is required to balance the oral health system within Aotearoa
If you have any questions, please email: leeann.waaka76@gmail.com
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.
Northern Regional Consumer Council
- ‘I know what an outcome looks like when it honours our culture and values’: One consumer’s experience of trying to change the system from within (PDF 164KB)
- ‘I know what an outcome looks like when it honours our culture and values’: One consumer’s experience of trying to change the system from within (DOCX 67KB)
National Palliative Care case study
- When experience becomes expertise: Influencing national palliative care (PDF 218KB)
- When experience becomes expertise: Influencing national palliative care (DOCX 66KB)
Australasian Health Infrastructure Alliance case study
- Lived experience is real world knowledge about what works in practice, not just on paper (PDF 212KB)
- Lived experience is real world knowledge about what works in practice, not just on paper (DOCX 69KB)
System safety strategy rōpū
Ngā Reo Māhuri Young Voices group
FIT for symptomatic project
