Pinnacle Midlands Health Network has been acknowledged with the highest rating in a Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand cultural audit for its “alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and commitment to improving Māori health outcomes”.

As a primary health organisation, we see firsthand the challenges faced by our communities, particularly those most vulnerable. Te Tiriti o Waitangi has long served as a foundation for addressing inequities in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly in healthcare.

Fortnightly clinics at two Raglan marae have enabled Raglan Medical to engage with some of the most vulnerable members of its Waikato west coast community.

Bronwyn Dennis, kaimanaaki Waikato, joined Pinnacle in March 2024. This role is designed to be a navigator of manaakitanga, building trusting relationships with iwi, mana whenua and whānau and is modelled on aroha, values and respect.

When Rongomaiwahine Iwi Trust and Pinnacle signed a formal agreement in February to promote the iwi’s hauora ora aspirations in the community it felt historic.

The success of a marae-based health clinic at Mangatoatoa Pā, just inside the King Country boundary near the banks of the Pūniu River, shows the power of collaboration.

On 1 October 2023 Pinnacle CE Justin Butcher joined Pinnacle colleagues, kaumātua, and board and Māori governance rōpū members, in Rōtorua to officially gift one of our practices, Ōwhata Medical Centre, to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Pikiao. Read Justin's thoughts on this partnership here.

We're thrilled to announce Hinetu Kallon Nikora, a patient service representative in our Patient Access Centre (PAC), as the inaugural recipient of Kia Puāwai, Pinnacle’s Māori Education Fund.

Sue van Mierlo is a nurse practitioner working as part of the Lakes Extended Care Team. In her role she supports people to self-manage long-term conditions and diseases, including managing diabetes. A large number of her clients are Māori.

On a mission to reduce barriers to healthcare for rangatahi in low-decile schools, clinicians in the Waikato SBHS are using a collaborative care model that is improving health outcomes and engagement for students and their whānau.