PHANZ Pānui & Policy Spot

Kaupapa Here - Newsletter and Policy highlights

In this newsletter

Recruitment for new PHANZ CEO has begun
Our 2023 Policy Cycle is underway
Building Māori Capacity - Kawa in All Things
Think Piece: Leptospirosis, an emerging health issue?
Submissions hub - Writing Workshops available
Toa Takatini - our Champions Programme
Kakara me kopere ~ bouquets & brickbats
Article of interest - A working paper on Māori recovery and responses for Cyclone Gabrielle

Karmin's Moving on - Ka Tipu Ake

One of the kawa or principles of growth we embrace is the concept of leadership growing new leaders - ka whanau mai, ka tipu ake. This month we acknowledge our interim CEO Karmin Erueti as she moves on to take up a Public Health Advisor role with Te Whatu Ora Taranaki and closer to her turangawaewae. Karmin says that she wishes to "thank the Executive Board for having the confidence in me to take on the new role of Interim CEO for the Public Health Association of New Zealand (PHANZ). Even though my time was short, it’s been an amazing ride and I have appreciated the countless opportunities to learn and grow both professionally and personally." Karmin also acknowledged the National Office team, PHANZ membership, and key stakeholders, commenting on the outstanding work being done and thanking them for "being such a supportive roopu as your collaborative efforts have been integral during my time at PHANZ." Karmins dedication to the task helped maintain business as usual in preparation for the next CEO of which recruitment is currently underway. Co-President Gail Duncan maintains oversight of the work plans meanwhile. All the best Karmin for the journey ahead - Mauri ora ki a tatou - the one constant is change as things evolve!

Advertisements for the role of PHANZ Chief Executive Officer can be found on the following platforms; Please feel free to share these links with your networks (closes Monday 20th 2023).

Policy Cycle 2023

Thank you to those that have gotten in touch to be leaders in our policy position statement development process this year. If you are still thinking about getting involved, please feel free to reach out to PHANZ Policy Analyst, Dr Alana McCambridge (alana@pha.org.nz), and she would be happy to discuss any opportunities with you.

Other policy news to note is the policy position statements that are due to be updated this year. Each PHANZ policy position statement needs to be reviewed after 3 years to ensure it is up to date. If it is not updated, then the position statement will be archived. Below you can see the policy position statements that need to be updated this year:

If you are interested in one of the issues above please get in contact with Dr Alana McCambridge (PHANZ Senior Policy Analyst) to discuss next steps.

You can also view all our current policy position statements on our website.

Endorsement process
Last year we also introduced a policy position endorsement process whereby you can nominate another organisation's position statement to be endorsed by PHA NZ. You can read about the process here or alternatively get in touch with us at National Office to find out more.

Building Māori Policy in Public Health

Kawa in All Things - PHANZ Māōri policy advisor Chris Webber provides a think piece to progress our application of kawa in public health. You can read the Blog:Think Piece 'Kawa in All Things' on our website. Pehea ou whakaaro - what do you think? Engage in our monthly 2nd Friday Kai Tahi zoom sessions to discuss the five elements around our kawa discussions and find ways to progress kawa in your space.

Read 'Kawa in All Things'

Leptospirosis - an emerging health issue?

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria leptospires which are usually found in animals such as rats, dogs, cattle, and pigs. This disease is found worldwide and can affect both animals and humans. In an RNZ article published in February 2023, the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) has noted an increase in leptospirosis cases across the region which could be linked to the larger rainfall events and the resulting flooding. Given the likelihood of further severe wet weather events in Aotearoa due to climate change, are we doing all we can in public health to protect our people from getting sick? PHA NZ volunteer Véronique Nuns wrote to us recently about this issue which you can read further in her blog:Think piece on our website.

Read on our blog

Submissions Hub

PHANZ submitted feedback on the Proposals for the Smoked Tobacco Regulatory Regime. The consultation covered questions on; Number of smoked tobacco retail premises and their distribution across Aotearoa ~ how to spread 600 stores across rural and urban areas? Minimum requirements for approval as a smoked tobacco retailer ~ who should be allowed to sell tobacco and what type of systems should they have? Approval processes and decision-making criteria ~ how to compare applications? Fees; Notification requirements; and Youth vaping ~ how to improve product safety and reduce the appeal?

Opportunities of interest:

Submissions on the Auckland 2023/24 annual budget are open until the 28th of March. There appear to be many opportunities in this budget to better advocate for the health of our planet. You can find a link to the feedback forms here, available in several languages.

If you believe there are submission opportunities that the PHANZ should be voicing an opinion on, please feel free to get in touch with National office or your local branch.

Submission Writing 101

Recently, PHANZ hosted an online submission writing workshop for Te Kōkī Hauora, the Māori Public Health Network, and friends. The session had a good turn out with many eager to learn or upskill on their submission writing. The first part of the workshop was about the 'what, why, and how' to write a submission. The second part of the workshop used an upcoming submission opportunity (e.g., the Women's health strategy) as an example to apply what was just learnt.

If your workplace or community group would like to organise a free, online submission writing workshop, feel free to get in touch!

Toa Takatini - Champions Programme

PHANZ aims to foster kaupapa-based champions starting with our membership interests and expertise. We invite those wishing to be identified as an expert or champion of a given area either publicly or to PHANZ members only to please let us know as we establish subject area lists in our members-only area on our website. Contact Chris@pha.org.nz to volunteer your name as a subject expert/champion or to find out more.

Kakara me Kōpere

This month's kakara award ('our sweet smelling bouquet') goes to the Public Health Expert blog which recently announced its retirement. The blog has been rebranded into the Public Health Expert Briefing and is now managed by the Public Health Communication Centre, based at the University of Otago, Wellington. The Briefing will continue the blog’s legacy of providing timely and credible information on Aotearoa New Zealand’s most pressing public health issues. You can keep up with new articles by The Briefing by subscribing here.

Our kōpere award ('the slinging of an arrow') for this month goes to those that have decided to delay the alcohol reforms that PHANZ, and many others, had been advocating for. As stated by the Alcohol Health Watch in their press release on the issue "adopting an evidence-based approach to alcohol policy will significantly reduce the burden of alcohol-related harm – the economic cost to the country being estimated as $7.85 billion a year. This is particularly relevant right now given our struggling health system and the other crises we are currently facing." We are disappointed in the delay but will continue to look ahead and advocate for the required changes to protect and safegaurd our communities from alcohol harms.

This month's article of interest

Maia Whakatakaia - A working paper on Māori recovery and responses for Cyclone Gabrielle. Published by Kym Hamilton (Ngāti Kahungunu – Ngai Tamaterangi, Nga Rauru, Ngāti Raukawa) Kārearea Institute for Change in response to the recovery and response to Cyclone Gabrielle.

Read the working draft here

Want to contribute to next month's pānui?

We are looking for our members to get in touch for next month's pānui. We want to know what you are working on, celebrate your successes, help you raise an issue or highlight submission deadlines, and get your messages out via our network! If you are interested in writing a piece for our pānui please get in contact at comms@PHA.org.nz.

e hoa are you a fan of the PHANZ? Stay connected by following us on Facebook and Twitter!

You are receiving this email either because you are a member of the PHANZ and we have added you to our mailing list, or because we have a record of you previously opting to add yourself to our mailing list.

Got something to add to the next Pānui? Get in touch with Alana@PHA.org.nz

This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
Public Health Association of New Zealand | Kāhui Hauora Tūmatanui · PO Box 24040 · 49 Manners Street, Te Aro · Wellington, Wellington 6011 · New Zealand