October 02, 2023
Pinnacle hands Pikiao health practice
Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Pikiao Trust is hiring as it merges a Rotorua general practice with its existing health service.
The iwi has been gifted the Ōwhata Medical Centre by not-for-profit primary health organisation Pinnacle.
Chair Mapihi Raharuhi says Ngāti Pikiao Health Services will continue to be part of the PHO, but the runanga is entirely responsible for the clinics operation.
She says the existing patient list and staff are part of the transfer, and there’s room to grow services when more staff come on board.
“Yes we have clinical standards and responsibilities to also uphold but as an iwi organisation we also have to uphold our tinakga and other values such as manaaki alongside that, so I think that’s a drawcard for workforce wanting to looking at coming to work with us,” Ms Raharuhi says.
She says the gift demonstrates what true Treaty partnership looks like both in word and deed.
Pinnacle chief executive Justin Butcher says the scaled up health response created by the merger can better serve the community.