Te kāhui mahi ngātahi
The Commission’s consumer advisory group te kāhui mahi ngātahi was established to carry out the following functions.
- Advise the board and chief executive on strategic issues, priorities and frameworks from a consumer perspective.
- Identify key issues for consumers and organisations, such as:
- responsiveness of existing providers to patients/consumer/families/whānau
- strategic direction of the Commission's programmes
- measuring and examining safety and quality.
- Engage with the Commission’s consumer network kōtuinga kiritaki , national and international clinical advisory groups, and the wider health and disability sector on the Commission’s consumer engagement activities and interests.
TOR and minutes
The terms of reference for the consumer advisory group te kāhui mahi ngātahi can be downloaded here.
Minutes 2022
- 4 October 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 4 October 2022 (246KB, pdf | 147KB, docx)
- 16 August 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 16 August 2022 (269KB, pdf | 152KB, docx)
- 28 June 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 28 June 2022 (273KB, pdf | 135KB, docx)
- 17 May 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 17 May 2022 (175KB, pdf | 129KB, docx)
- 29 March 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 29 March 2022 (193KB, pdf | 117KB, docx)
- 10 February 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 10 February 2022 (216KB, pdf | 122KB, docx)
Minutes 2021
- 25 November 2021. Minutes of the Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 25 November 2021 (223KB, pdf | 114KB, docx)
- 25 October 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 25 October 2021 (233KB, pdf | 114KB, docx)
- 14 October 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 14 October 2021 (207KB, pdf | 114KB, docx)
- 2 September 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 2 September 2021 (164KB, pdf | 110KB, docx)
- 22 July 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 22 July 2021 (174KB, pdf | 110KB, docx)
- 10 June 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 10 June 2021 (205KB, pdf)
- 29 April 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 29 April 2021 (187KB, pdf)
- 4 February 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 4 February 2021 (183KB, pdf)
Minutes 2020
- 5 November 2020. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 5 November 2020 (251KB, pdf)
- 27 August 2020. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 27 August 2020 (323KB, pdf)
- 9 July 2020. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 9 July 2020 (283KB, pdf)
- 16 April 2020. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 16 April 2020 (206KB, pdf)
- 30 January 2020. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 30 January 2020 (264KB, pdf)
Minutes 2019
Terms of reference
The terms of reference for the consumer advisory group te kāhui mahi ngātahi can be downloaded here.
Minutes
Minutes 2022
- 4 October 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 4 October 2022 (246KB, pdf | 147KB, docx)
- 16 August 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 16 August 2022 (269KB, pdf | 152KB, docx)
- 28 June 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 28 June 2022 (273KB, pdf | 135KB, docx)
- 17 May 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 17 May 2022 (175KB, pdf | 129KB, docx)
- 29 March 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 29 March 2022 (193KB, pdf | 117KB, docx)
- 10 February 2022. Minutes of Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 10 February 2022 (216KB, pdf | 122KB, docx)
Minutes 2021
- 25 November 2021. Minutes of the Te kāhui mahi ngātahi / the consumer advisory group meeting held on 25 November 2021 (223KB, pdf | 114KB, docx)
- 25 October 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 25 October 2021 (233KB, pdf | 114KB, docx)
- 14 October 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 14 October 2021 (207KB, pdf | 114KB, docx)
- 2 September 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 2 September 2021 (164KB, pdf | 110KB, docx)
- 22 July 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 22 July 2021 (174KB, pdf | 110KB, docx)
- 10 June 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 10 June 2021 (205KB, pdf)
- 29 April 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 29 April 2021 (187KB, pdf)
- 4 February 2021. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 4 February 2021 (183KB, pdf)
Minutes 2020
- 5 November 2020. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 5 November 2020 (251KB, pdf)
- 27 August 2020. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 27 August 2020 (323KB, pdf)
- 9 July 2020. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 9 July 2020 (283KB, pdf)
- 16 April 2020. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 16 April 2020 (206KB, pdf)
- 30 January 2020. Minutes of the advisory group meeting held on 30 January 2020 (264KB, pdf)
Minutes 2019
Our members
Angie comes from Wairoa in Hawke’s Bay and is passionate about serving her community as an advocate for health services. Her interest in advocacy was prompted by her mother’s own health experience and rehabilitation after a stroke while visiting Auckland. Swift responses from medical teams provided a positive outcome but it could have been quite different if it had happened in a more isolated area, which is the case for many people living rurally, particularly Māori.
These experiences led Angie to join the Hawke’s Bay Health consumer council as a community representative to further this advocacy work. As well as being on the Commission’s Te Kāhui Mahi Ngātahi | Consumer Advisory group, Angie is co-chair for the adverse events policy review working rōpū and was previously on Kōtuinga Kiritaki | Consumer Network.
Angie says it is a privilege to be in these roles and serve her communities. She feels strongly about best representing the interests of Māori, rural, older adult and health consumers in Wairoa.
Russ is the current chair of the West Coast DHB consumer council and chair of the national group of DHB consumer council chairs. He is also a member of the commission consumer network group, the National Quality Forum and the Chairs of Executive Groups Strategic Forum.
Other groups Russ sits on are; Mental Health & Addiction System Co-design Group, Clinical Board and Clinical Advisory Group, National Bowel Screening Steering Group, COVID-19 Oversight Group
Russ has worked in both public and private enterprises in the UK, primarily in the National Health Service in human resources, organisational development and project management. He previously owned a consultancy working as an external auditor for the UK Security Industry Authority.
Now a New Zealand citizen, Russ and his wife have lived in Nelson Creek on the West Coast for several years. He is involved in many community groups including as secretary of the Nelson Creek Community Society Inc. Russ has previously worked with the Nelson Brain Injury Association and later provided admin/project support to Brain Injury New Zealand.
Russ is interested in the challenges that living in a rural area and accessing equitable health care raises. His significant cardiac issues have meant inpatient stays in Grey Base and Christchurch hospitals where he has had experience of issues like ‘being in the system’ to ‘rural discharge’ and the impact it had on his partner and whānau.
Most of his working life Frank, with his late wife Joy, has worked in horticulture including vegetable growing, vegetable seed breeding and plant nursery work. He continues with a small farm producing heritage apples, chilli sauce and heirloom tomato seeds. See www.bristol.co.nz.
Frank is the current manager of Balance Aotearoa, which provides Mental Health & Addictions peer support, advocacy and consultancy services. Through Balance, Frank provides consumer leadership, consultancy and liaison for Whanganui DHB’s Mental Health and Addictions Service as the Consumer Advisor.
Frank is passionate about approaches that are based on peer support, self-care, relationship-care and developing healthier communities for all. These philosophies are embedded in the programmes like Korimana, PeerZone and Intentional Peer Support that Balance Aotearoa delivers. He has been a speaker on self-management at various mental health conferences in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, United States and Canada. Balance Aotearoa has partnered with the Ministry of Health under the Disability Action Plan on rights-based issues associated with the current Mental Health Act. Frank supported his late wife Joy on a difficult journey negotiating the abysses in the regional cancer services over the last two years.
Frank is a member of the Whanganui DHB Board Combined Committees. He is also on the National Te Pou Mental Health & Addiction Information and Data and Clinical Reference Groups, the Commission’s Mental Health & Addiction Quality Improvement programme’s stakeholder group, the National MHA KPI Sponsors and Reference Groups, and is a life member of CCS Disability Action.
Mary Schnackenberg has an extensive relationship with the disability community, specifically with blind/vision impaired people. She has served in leading roles with the likes of Blind Citizens NZ; The Braille Authority of New Zealand Aotearoa Trust; The Ministry of Health, Disability Directorate, Consumer Consortium; and PHARMAC Consumer Advisory Committee.
From 1984 until 2008, Mary managed the accessible formats production and library at a leading charity, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind. Since 2008 she has worked as a consultant and braille producer in the disability sector.
Mary comes from a human rights background and is increasingly conscious of inequities across New Zealand society. Mary enjoys the challenging role of being a consumer advisor, having to think about a wide range of issues and consider many perspectives.
Mary is also a member of the Commission’s Consumer Network group.
Delphina is general manager for the Society of St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies Auckland) which she has led for the last ten years. This NGO and charitable trust is dedicated to the care of people in South Auckland.
Two major areas of focus for Delphina is a youth programme and large food bank that service the needs of Pacific peoples & Māori in South Auckland. These services have grown significantly over the years and in particular recently with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delphina is connected to and works with over 40 organisations in the Auckland area which provide crucial services for vulnerable populations. Her skills as both a youth worker for twenty years and as manager of the Vinnies places her well as a strategic partner and consumer to provide input to the Commissions Consumer Advisory group.
Having had her own experiences of inequity through personal health issues, Delphina is passionate about addressing issues of inequity in the health sector, advocating for the needs of both mainstream youth and Pacifica communities and empowering them when seeking health and wellbeing services.
Ko Piko te Maunga
Ko Moananui a kiwa te moana
Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Kuki Airani rāua ko tahiti ngā iwi
Ko Manihiki, ko Rakahanga, me Rarotonga ngā hapū
Ko Ngatamine tōku ingoa
Ngatamaine identifies as Cook Island Māori and works as a Youth Justice Team leader at Te Hou Ora Whanau services to support Rangitahi in Dunedin. Her particular emphasis of work centres around the mental health & wellbeing of youth and promoting and resourcing intervention programmes. Nationally based intervention programmes with multiple agencies, practitioners and frontline workers is a focus of her mahi.
Maine’s own traumatic experience in the health system with back surgery made her aware of varying levels of treatment and inequity and how we need to be proactive in having a voice in our own personal health care.
Also being involved in sports management and training (touch rugby and basketball), Maine is connected and involved with youth in many networks.
Jodie (Kāti Kuri and Kāi Tahu) is the Kaiwhaihua (engagement manager) for Changing Minds, a national not-for-profit organisation, nurturing people with lived experience of mental distress and/or addiction (whānau mātau ā-wheako) to embrace the mana of their lived experience as a source of collective strength to activate equitable wellbeing across all of Aotearoa.
Her own lived experience and subsequent positive recovery outcome have led to a passion to help and support others to navigate their own journey of recovery from mental health.
The kindness and support shown to Jodie led to a change in career from corporate communications, lobbying and public relations to using her skills and networking abilities to help others through collaboration, co-design and leadership.
Jodie found a lot of healing in reconnecting to her culture and te ao Māori. This reconnection has assisted greatly in connecting well with iwi and whānau and addressing some of the inequities for Māori with mental health and addictions.
Having a child with hearing issues has led to another of Jodie’s strong areas of interest and she works with the Deaf community for those with unique mental health issues.
Jodie is excited about joining the consumer advisory group and offering her expertise and experience at a governance level.
Angie Smith (co-chair, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ruapani ki Waikaremoana, Ngāi Tūhoe)
Angie comes from Wairoa in Hawke’s Bay and is passionate about serving her community as an advocate for health services. Her interest in advocacy was prompted by her mother’s own health experience and rehabilitation after a stroke while visiting Auckland. Swift responses from medical teams provided a positive outcome but it could have been quite different if it had happened in a more isolated area, which is the case for many people living rurally, particularly Māori.
These experiences led Angie to join the Hawke’s Bay Health consumer council as a community representative to further this advocacy work. As well as being on the Commission’s Te Kāhui Mahi Ngātahi | Consumer Advisory group, Angie is co-chair for the adverse events policy review working rōpū and was previously on Kōtuinga Kiritaki | Consumer Network.
Angie says it is a privilege to be in these roles and serve her communities. She feels strongly about best representing the interests of Māori, rural, older adult and health consumers in Wairoa.
Russ Aiton (co-chair)
Russ is the current chair of the West Coast DHB consumer council and chair of the national group of DHB consumer council chairs. He is also a member of the commission consumer network group, the National Quality Forum and the Chairs of Executive Groups Strategic Forum.
Other groups Russ sits on are; Mental Health & Addiction System Co-design Group, Clinical Board and Clinical Advisory Group, National Bowel Screening Steering Group, COVID-19 Oversight Group
Russ has worked in both public and private enterprises in the UK, primarily in the National Health Service in human resources, organisational development and project management. He previously owned a consultancy working as an external auditor for the UK Security Industry Authority.
Now a New Zealand citizen, Russ and his wife have lived in Nelson Creek on the West Coast for several years. He is involved in many community groups including as secretary of the Nelson Creek Community Society Inc. Russ has previously worked with the Nelson Brain Injury Association and later provided admin/project support to Brain Injury New Zealand.
Russ is interested in the challenges that living in a rural area and accessing equitable health care raises. His significant cardiac issues have meant inpatient stays in Grey Base and Christchurch hospitals where he has had experience of issues like ‘being in the system’ to ‘rural discharge’ and the impact it had on his partner and whānau.
Frank Bristol (Whanganui)
Most of his working life Frank, with his late wife Joy, has worked in horticulture including vegetable growing, vegetable seed breeding and plant nursery work. He continues with a small farm producing heritage apples, chilli sauce and heirloom tomato seeds. See www.bristol.co.nz.
Frank is the current manager of Balance Aotearoa, which provides Mental Health & Addictions peer support, advocacy and consultancy services. Through Balance, Frank provides consumer leadership, consultancy and liaison for Whanganui DHB’s Mental Health and Addictions Service as the Consumer Advisor.
Frank is passionate about approaches that are based on peer support, self-care, relationship-care and developing healthier communities for all. These philosophies are embedded in the programmes like Korimana, PeerZone and Intentional Peer Support that Balance Aotearoa delivers. He has been a speaker on self-management at various mental health conferences in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, United States and Canada. Balance Aotearoa has partnered with the Ministry of Health under the Disability Action Plan on rights-based issues associated with the current Mental Health Act. Frank supported his late wife Joy on a difficult journey negotiating the abysses in the regional cancer services over the last two years.
Frank is a member of the Whanganui DHB Board Combined Committees. He is also on the National Te Pou Mental Health & Addiction Information and Data and Clinical Reference Groups, the Commission’s Mental Health & Addiction Quality Improvement programme’s stakeholder group, the National MHA KPI Sponsors and Reference Groups, and is a life member of CCS Disability Action.
Mary Schnackenberg (Auckland)
Mary Schnackenberg has an extensive relationship with the disability community, specifically with blind/vision impaired people. She has served in leading roles with the likes of Blind Citizens NZ; The Braille Authority of New Zealand Aotearoa Trust; The Ministry of Health, Disability Directorate, Consumer Consortium; and PHARMAC Consumer Advisory Committee.
From 1984 until 2008, Mary managed the accessible formats production and library at a leading charity, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind. Since 2008 she has worked as a consultant and braille producer in the disability sector.
Mary comes from a human rights background and is increasingly conscious of inequities across New Zealand society. Mary enjoys the challenging role of being a consumer advisor, having to think about a wide range of issues and consider many perspectives.
Mary is also a member of the Commission’s Consumer Network group.
Delphina Soti (Auckland)
Delphina is general manager for the Society of St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies Auckland) which she has led for the last ten years. This NGO and charitable trust is dedicated to the care of people in South Auckland.
Two major areas of focus for Delphina is a youth programme and large food bank that service the needs of Pacific peoples & Māori in South Auckland. These services have grown significantly over the years and in particular recently with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Delphina is connected to and works with over 40 organisations in the Auckland area which provide crucial services for vulnerable populations. Her skills as both a youth worker for twenty years and as manager of the Vinnies places her well as a strategic partner and consumer to provide input to the Commissions Consumer Advisory group.
Having had her own experiences of inequity through personal health issues, Delphina is passionate about addressing issues of inequity in the health sector, advocating for the needs of both mainstream youth and Pacifica communities and empowering them when seeking health and wellbeing services.
Ngatamaine Mareko-Johnson (Dunedin)
Ko Piko te Maunga
Ko Moananui a kiwa te moana
Ko Takitimu te waka
Ko Kuki Airani rāua ko tahiti ngā iwi
Ko Manihiki, ko Rakahanga, me Rarotonga ngā hapū
Ko Ngatamine tōku ingoa
Ngatamaine identifies as Cook Island Māori and works as a Youth Justice Team leader at Te Hou Ora Whanau services to support Rangitahi in Dunedin. Her particular emphasis of work centres around the mental health & wellbeing of youth and promoting and resourcing intervention programmes. Nationally based intervention programmes with multiple agencies, practitioners and frontline workers is a focus of her mahi.
Maine’s own traumatic experience in the health system with back surgery made her aware of varying levels of treatment and inequity and how we need to be proactive in having a voice in our own personal health care.
Also being involved in sports management and training (touch rugby and basketball), Maine is connected and involved with youth in many networks.
Jodie Bennett (Kāti Kuri, Kāi Tahu)
Jodie (Kāti Kuri and Kāi Tahu) is the Kaiwhaihua (engagement manager) for Changing Minds, a national not-for-profit organisation, nurturing people with lived experience of mental distress and/or addiction (whānau mātau ā-wheako) to embrace the mana of their lived experience as a source of collective strength to activate equitable wellbeing across all of Aotearoa.
Her own lived experience and subsequent positive recovery outcome have led to a passion to help and support others to navigate their own journey of recovery from mental health.
The kindness and support shown to Jodie led to a change in career from corporate communications, lobbying and public relations to using her skills and networking abilities to help others through collaboration, co-design and leadership.
Jodie found a lot of healing in reconnecting to her culture and te ao Māori. This reconnection has assisted greatly in connecting well with iwi and whānau and addressing some of the inequities for Māori with mental health and addictions.
Having a child with hearing issues has led to another of Jodie’s strong areas of interest and she works with the Deaf community for those with unique mental health issues.
Jodie is excited about joining the consumer advisory group and offering her expertise and experience at a governance level.
Last updated: 2nd June, 2022
