National Mortality Review Committee He Mutunga Kore

The National Mortality Review Committee was gifted a te reo Māori name: ‘He Mutunga Kore. Ka po, ka ao, ka awatea. The te reo Māori name came about at the request of the committee.  

He Mutunga Kore provides the base context for the committee.  The name provides a stance where there is no end to the fight for equity, no end to challenging the gaps in the health system for ongoing improvements, there is no end to remembering our loved ones whom we have lost too early, there is no end to reflection and learning.  He Mutunga Kore is a name, it is context, it is a stance, and it is a responsibility.

He Mutunga Kore speaks to the eternal nature of our existence through mauri and wairua. The inherent imperative to remember from whence we have come is embodied in our transference of whakapapa and the speaking of the names and the stories of those that have gone before us so that they live on in our consciousness. He Mutunga Kore means that those names and stories will be accorded the mana they deserve in all our deliberations and recommendations.

‘Ka pō, ka ao, ka awatea’ – translates to ‘from within the darkness comes light and a new day’ – is a subtitle to He Mutunga Kore.

Ka pō, ka ao, ka awatea refers to the key thresholds of life – from the darkness, in the waters of our mothers, and born into a domain of light and sensory perception. As we journey through life and learn, we move from a state of opportunity (ka pō) to a state of clarity (ka ao) and insightful wisdom (ka awatea).

This cycle happens continuously throughout our lives.  As such, it is our responsibility to review data and information of those who have passed, to listen to the voices of their whānau, analyse the information so that it shines the light, and provide surveillance by presenting the information to effect new change. 

The context of ‘He Mutunga Kore: Ka pō, ka ao, ka awatea’ interweaves into the committee’s vision “To prevent people passing away before their time and to help everyone have the best opportunity to thrive” with action-based values. Together, the name and values provide a foundation and the direction for the committee’s approach to reducing avoidable mortality.   

Read more about the Committee’s vision, mission and values (PPTX 732KB).

He Mutunga Kore encompasses the responsibility to:

• involve people through mahi whānau
• inquire into what has been done, and what can be done, through mahi pākiki
• inform in a respectful and compassionate yet challenging way through mahi manaaki
• influence through mahi tika to ensure we do the right thing to understand avoidable death
• improve the process of understanding through mahi tahi.

Dr Liza Edmonds (chair)

Dr Liza Edmonds (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua) is a neonatal paediatrician with Wairarapa Hospital, Associate Professor Te Tātai Hauora o Hine, Victoria University, Wellington and Honorary Clinical Lecturer, Department of Child Health, University of Otago.

Liza has extensive experience as a member of various boards and governance groups including Health Research South Board (Otago Medical School), Ronald McDonald House Board, VIP Governance Group (Southern District Health Board), Carosika Collaborative: Pre-term Prevention (Liggins Institute), Aotearoa Neonatal Network (Paediatric Society of New Zealand) and the Child Health Committee (South Island Alliance). A member of the previous Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee, Liza made a valuable contribution to the committee’s work. She is also a member of Ngā Pou Arawhenua (Māori caucus for mortality review).

Liza lives with her whānau including her tāne Shane and tamariki Jack, George and Maria and has the privilege of working in a team and with whānau every day.

Professor Alastair Woodward (deputy chair)

Deputy chair Alistair Woodward is a Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Auckland.

With a background in public health medicine and epidemiology, and a focus on environmental health and social determinants, Alistair has been a member of national bodies such as the Board of the Health Research Council of New Zealand and the National Health Committee.

He is currently co-chair of the public health assessing panel for the next round of Performance-Based Research Fund funding.

A Fellow of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine, in 2007 he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize as part of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change team that produced its Fourth Assessment Report.

Alistair has been a member of two expert advisory committees supporting Te Tāhū Hauora, first, for the review of the national mortality review function in 2021/22 and, second, for the transition to the reformed structure in 2023.

Dr Rawiri Keenan

Dr Rawiri Keenan (Te Atiawa, Taranaki) is a specialist general practitioner and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, University of Otago, and an Adjunct Senior Fellow, Medical Research Centre, University of Waikato. 

Rawiri has been involved in projects on lung cancer, bowel cancer, diabetes and health equity, funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. 

For the past four years Rawiri has been involved with Te Tāhū Hauora’s clinical governance group for patient experience surveys.

Te Paea Bradshaw

Ko Rangitūmau te maunga
Ko Ruamahanga te awa
Ko Te Ore Ore te marae
Ko Ngati Kahungunu, Ko Rangitane ngā iwi
Ko Ngati Hamua te hapū
No Wairarapa ahau
 
Ko Te Paea Bradshaw tōku ingoa. 
BCA, BHsc Midwifery.

Born and raised in Wairarapa and now residing in Te Matau a Māui.  Te Paea completed a Bachelor of Commerce, then had a change of heart after having had a couple of children and began her career as a midwife over a decade ago. Since then, she has held various roles as Core Staff, Lead Maternity Carer, Māori midwifery consultant, Acting Midwifery Director, and currently works as a Māori Midwifery Advisor for NZ College of Midwives. Te Paea is passionate about revitalising Te Reo Māori in all areas of life and reducing Māori health inequities. 

Liz Pennington

Liz Pennington is based in the Bay of Plenty. Liz is a registered nurse with extensive experience in mental health, addictions and psychological trauma response. 

Liz served as the CE for Rural Women New Zealand as well as the CE and Critical Incident Lead for Vitae and National Chair for the Anglican Care Network of New Zealand. 

Liz has worked in community co-design and development in the NGO sector and holds roles in a range of community organisation's boards including Breast Cancer Support Aotearoa, The Ovarian Cancer Foundation New Zealand and CIMA Crisis Intervention and Management Australasia. 

Liz is a proud Nana to three granddaughters.

Taima Campbell

Taima Campbell is a Registered Nurse of Pare Hauraki descent. Taima is the Manukura Hauora | CE for Te Puna Hauora Matua o Hauraki | Hauraki PHO, which covers primary care providers in the Hauraki and Waikato region. Before this she was the Poukura Hauora | Clinical Service Manager for Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki as well as an independent consultant to a number of heath organisations. 

Taima has extensive experience in health leadership and management roles with a focus on child health, Māori health, nursing leadership and workforce development.