HDC Consumer Advisory Group
The role of the Consumer Advisory Group is to provide timely advice and feedback to the Commissioner on strategic issues:
- Handling of consumer complaints about health and disability services
- How to improve the quality of health and disability services
- Public interest issues where the Health and Disability Commissioner can take a lead
- Policy issues raised by the Commissioner
- Promotion and education.
Meeting notes May 2009
The group meets three times a year. The members are:
Disability
Martine Abel
David Corner
Beverley Grammer
Evan McKenzie
Pati Umaga
Health
Neil Hatcher JP
Barbara Robson (Co-convenor)
Suzy Stevens
George Tripp
Pacific
Molly Pihigia
David Talitu
Frances Hartnell
Iwi
Naida Glavish
Ramari Maipi
Fiona Pimm
Martine Abel
I settled in Auckland in 1996, following emigrating from South Africa and I live with my husband and guide dog, Kosmo, in Pakuranga, a suburb of Auckland. I'm currently the Policy Advisor - Disability at Manukau City Council and I'm also on the Board of the Association of Blind Citizens of NZ.
I was born with limited sight as a result of a congenital eye condition and I am totally blind now; I do have plenty of 'vision' though! Part of what drives me, is the need I feel to promote human, disability and health rights to others in the community, and I have a keen interest and work scope in the areas of community development, engagement and empowerment.
David Corner
David works for IHC New Zealand as a fulltime advisor on the National Self Advocacy team and has been in this role for over 13 years. His work sees him represent people with disabilities on a national and international level. David has been elected as Self Advocate representative for the Asia Pacific Region on the Council of Inclusion International. Inclusion International is a global federation of organisations advocating for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. Inclusion International represents more than 200 member federations in 115 countries.
On a national level, David speaks out on disability issues through his work with the New Zealand Disabled Persons Assembly National Executive Committee, the Human Rights Commission, the Association of Supported Employment New Zealand Board and the New Zealand Standards and Monitoring Board.
David is very passionate about the rights for all persons with intellectual disabilities. He believes every human being is entitled to be seen as having equal value, equal status and must be accepted for the person they are.
Beverley Grammer
Beverley Grammer is Managing Director and owner of Up2date consultancy service and online community, and comes from Ohope Beach, aka Paradise.
Bev now contracts to a number of agencies to provide ongoing training for staff and consumers and to undertake client satisfaction investigations and feedback projects. Bev also holds position of chairperson on The Office for Disability Issues Advisory Council, Disabled Persons Assembly Vice President, Lotteries Commission Committee Member, Total Mobility Management Committee Member, Director of Access Ability Ltd, Standards Plus, Voice Advocacy Board, and in her spare time gives of her time to local service club Ohope Beach Lions Club as their Bulletin Editor.
Bev is passionate about disabled people and their families having access to information and resources to be able to manage their own lives and participate fully in the community. Apart from the work in the sector, Bev lives for her family and friends, and her greatest pride is being "Aunty Bev".
Evan McKenzie
Evan is a semi-retired Vietnam Veteran who currently resides in Tauranga. A father of two severely disabled children, he has been a self advocate for 30 plus years sharing and assisting in the problems facing disabled persons - particularly Intellectually Disabled. He has also been active within the Veteran's society, keenly pursuing rights and entitlements for Veterans and their families and assisting as personal advocate where requested.
Evan has been an active CAG member since its inception in 2003 and immediately prior to joining CAG, had represented HDC on a Standards (NZ) Committee in establishing The Health & Disability Sector Standards (Intellectual Disability) Audit Workbook.
Pati Umaga
Pati Umaga is a Wellington-based first-generation NZ-born Samoan. He had a fall over four years ago that resulted in him using a wheelchair and becoming an ACC long-term serious injury client. At the time of his accident Pati was a Youth Development Worker for the Community Development team at Lower Hutt City Council. He has used his Community and Youth Development background to become involved within the disability sector. In 2006 he established the Wellington Pasefika Disability Network, a registered trust which is a voluntary support group for Maori and Pacific people with disabilities.
Pati has had first-hand experience at poor service delivery by service providers for disabled people. He uses this as a motivating factor to spread the work of the Health and Disability Commissioner to ensure that consumers are aware of their rights to be treated fairly and with respect, and to lay a complaint with the HDC’s office if they are getting a sub-standard service. Pati also has a background in music. He was the bass player for the Holidaymakers who in 1987 had the number one hit “Sweet lovers”. He plans to use his music experience as a way for people with disabilities to develop and express their creative abilities in performance and recording.
Neil Hatcher
Neil is retired but working harder than ever! Neil is the chairman for Age Concern in Flaxmere as well as Chairman for Hastings’ District Councils Positive Ageing Forums. Neil offers his time as Vice President of the Hawkes Bay Justice of the Peace Association as well as a course instructor for mobility scooters. Neil is also on the advisory committee of Consumer Reference Group Options of Hawkes Bay.
Barbara Robson
Barbara lives in Feilding and has been involved in health and disability consumer advocacy for more than 20 years. While maintaining a broad interest in and knowledge of both the health and disability sectors, Barbara’s special interest has been in women’s health. She has been a consumer representative on a number of national screening and maternity advisory groups in the past. She is Co-convenor of the Federation of Women’s Health Councils. Barbara is currently involved in the Central Region DHBs’ Regional Clinical Services Programme Steering Group as a consumer representative, and in nationally-led initiatives around the safe sharing of health information. Barbara has been an elected member of MidCentral DHB Board since 2001 and as part of that role, serves as Chair of the Enable New Zealand Governance Group.
I am a New Zealander, born in the Waikato. My dad was from England and my mum had Irish parents and was born in Auckland. I have three children and two grandchildren. I live on the Kapiti Coast near Wellington with my partner.
I have worked for the last 15 years in the NGO health sector and during that time have provided advice and contributed to a range of work within NGOs and government agencies, including the Ministry of Health. I bring personal experience of using mental health services to my current work in the community mental health sector. My skills are networking, developing and managing projects, report writing and facilitation. I undertake systemic advocacy work and contribute to policy, research and evaluation projects.
George Tripp
I live in Kakanui with my wife Rosemary: We have been married for 35 years. I have played an active role in our community over the years. These have included the following:
- Oamaru Jaycees
- A board member of and present chair of the Oamaru Mental Health Charitable Trust
- Co-ordinator of the Waitaki combined mental health network inc
- A board member of S F Waitaki, the local supporting families society
- Chair of Te Mana Mauri Motuhake Kotahi Trust - a Maori mental health and addiction consumer advisor and advocacy service covering the South Island
- Chair of Waitaki consumer action on mental health trust - a consumer mental health service
- Present chair of the Southern consumer network trust
- Held consumer roles in the Otago DHB.
Most of my involvement in my community is within the Mental Health area. This allows me to build a relationship with other disability groups and the wider North Otago community. It is my belief that a community that works together stays together and within that can make a difference.
Molly Pihigia
Molly lives in Auckland and has been involved in health and disability consumer advocacy for more than 15 years. Her Nursing background of more than 20 years has contributed and maintained interest in promoting health and wellbeing of Pacific older people and families. She is a consumer representative with Pacific network and has coordinated an ‘Empower to Pamper’ programme which is an Elder Abuse and Neglect Prevention for eight years. Molly is involved with various Pacific community groups and the Pacific Islanders Church.
David Talitu
David is an Aucklander of Pacific heritage with a background in project management. Currently working for Housing New Zealand Corporation as Project Co ordinator within the Tamaki Transformation Programme.
Outside work David is an Elder of the Pacific Islanders Presbyterian Church, Newton Parish, and is also a member of the Executive Board of the Pacific Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Issues close to his heart are services related to cancer, as one of his immediate family has been diagnosed with cancer. David is also keen advocate for ensuring that Pacific Peoples including those born in New Zealand and the wider community know their rights and service providers know their responsibilities in relation to health and disability services.
Frances Hartnell
St Heliers, Auckland
Frances has worked with a range of companies in leadership roles, establishing and executing strategies in defining business cultures, structures and systems and building key business and community partnerships. Frances is recognised for her ability to “forward think” and have awareness of public and private sector trends.
- Fullbright Scholarship USA (Economic Development)
- Director Manukau Pacific Markets Co., Ltd., (position related to Pacific Business Trust)
- Director Kairos Oceania Charitable Trust (voluntary position)
- Member Selwyn College Community Education Advisory group (voluntary position)
- Member of Pacific Creative Arts Committee ( Creative NZ)
Naida is a fluent bi-lingual speaker and proficient translator with extensive knowledge of Tikanga Maori. She is experienced in advocating for Maori and champions the protection of tikanga within mainstream settings.
Naida is currently the Chief Advisor Tikanga / General Manager of He Kamaka Oranga, Maori Health for the Auckland District Health Board. As an Iwi representative, she is the chairperson - Te Runanga o Ngati Whatua and Ngati Whatua Nga Rima o Kaipara and a dedicated advocate for the Tikanga of Ngati Whatua.
Ramari Maipi was appointed as the first Maori community health worker. She has also been employed by MOH Department of Health Waikato and was a part of the cervical screening research done in Waikato. Ramari worked at Waahi Marae Health centre, trained under Dr Peter Dunn. Ramari assisted in the development of the community health screening the now 'WOF Warrant of Fitness' and in 1992 applied for her current position with Maori Women’s Health Cervical and Breast Promotion and Screening.
Fiona holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, University of Otago and an MBA from Massey University and Diploma in Applied Science, Nuclear Medicine from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). She has worked in the health sector for 27 years originally as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist and later in health service management. Fiona managed the development of Pegasus Medical Group for 6 years from its inception and has extensive health sector networks across Aotearoa. Fiona followed on to lead the development of Ngai Tahu’s health & social service arm, He Oranga Pounamu for ten years. Fiona has now joined the Planning & Funding team at Canterbury DHB and is currently managing the CDHB elective services programme.
Fiona is a Board Member on the South Canterbury District Health Board and a member of Careerforce Maori Advisory Group.
In the past Fiona has been a member of several government advisory groups and committees including:
- He Korowai Oranga Sector Reference Group, MoH
- Health Workforce Advisory Committee Maori Advisory Group, MoH
- Child Health Review Reference Group, MoH
- Maori Provider Development Scheme Reference Group, MoH
- Future of Work Advisory Panel, Department of Labour