Born and bred in Hawke’s Bay, with a young daughter through to grandparents accessing health services locally, I have a vested interest in ensuring the health services provided in our region are of the highest standard.

With an accounting career that spans 18 years, I believe my experience in providing financial support and advice to a wide variety of businesses will make me a valuable addition to our DHB.  A Senior Management Accountant with the HBDHB for 7 years working locally and on national Ministry of Health projects, I am now an associate with a local accounting firm and continue my role in health as the Finance Manager for Hawke’s Bay Health Provider Te Kupenga Hauora-Ahuriri. 

I feel passionate about making a contribution to the Hawke’s Bay community and believe my knowledge and expertise in financial management, along with my experience in the health sector would enable me to participate in the effective governance of the HBDHB.

Top 5 Issues

1. Integration of primary and secondary care to ensure Hawke's Bay residents receive timely health interventions in the most appropriate environment.
2. Development of strategic plan for our Aging Population. Within 10-15 years one million New Zealanders will be aged 65 and over therefore it is vital we fund the right health services to cater for the needs of these residents.
3. Supporting equal access to health services and ensuring funding is targeted at high need groups.
4. Development of workforce retention strategies and supporting ongoing training of our health workforce both within the community and hospital-based services.
5. Ensuring effective financial management to ensure Hawke's Bay health funding is utilised in the most efficient manner to achieve the MoH Health Targets, as well as meeting the unique needs of our regional population.

Personal Profile

For the past 9 years I have been involved in the financial managment of health services within the Hawke's Bay community.  Over this time I have seen a need for more integrated service delivery across our continuum of health providers to ensure Hawke's Bay residents are receiving the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Employed by HBDHB as a senior management accountant from 2001 - 2008 I worked across all facets of the hospital based provider arm, as well as the community teams and public health unit.  My last two years saw me working with the funding arm responsible for the financial management of the entire Hawke's Bay health budget including Population Health, Aged Care, Disability Services, Laboratory and Pharmacuetical funding as well as representing HBDHB on national Ministry of Health projects.

I am now an Associate with a local accounting firm and as part of this role am contracted as the Finance Manager for the Napier based health and social services provider Te Kupenga Hauora-Ahuriri.  This has provided me with insight into the provision of health services within Hawke's Bay across all sprectrums of healthcare and appreciate the importance of ensuring all our health providers work together to provide the best health services possible with the funding allocated to our local population.

Hawke's Bay born and bred with a young daughter through to grandparents accessing health services locally I have a vested interest in ensuring the health services provided in our region are of the highest standard.  My parents are members of the baby boom generation who will be retiring within the next 10 years along with an estimated one million other New Zealanders.  Strategic planning over the next few yeras will be vital to ensure we have adequate services and facilities available to cater for this growing population.

Unfortunately there will never be unlimited funding to cover the health needs of our society, research actually shows that additional funding is not the answer.  We need to get smarter in the way we deliver health services in Hawke's Bay to ensure we are making the most impact with the funding we receive in this region.

I feel passionate about making a contribution to the Hawkes Bay community and my knowledge and expertise in the health sector would enable me to assist in the effective governance of the HBDHB.  If you believe it is time for a change, please vote 1 for Kirsten Wise in the ballot paper and allow me to act as an agent for that change on your behalf!