Media release: New national group forms to support public healthcare in Aotearoa

Embargoed until 11:30am, Tuesday 20 January 2026 

Kaitiaki Hauora - Together for Public Health has been formed as a national group bringing together patients, health workers, iwi and Māori health representatives, unions, advocacy organisations, and community groups, with backing from a growing number of organisations across the health sector.  

The group has come together because of shared concern about the growing pressure on the public health system and the impact this is having on patients, whānau, communities, and the health workforce. 

At its core, our campaign has three big goals: 

• Adequate and sustained funding to meet the real health needs of our population 

• Protecting and strengthening publicly provided healthcare, rather than outsourcing it to private interests 

• Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi by embedding equity, partnership, and Māori leadership in how health services are designed, funded, and delivered. 

Kaitiaki Hauora and its participants share a belief that publicly funded healthcare should be accessible to everyone, regardless of income or where they live, and that decisions about health and healthcare must be fair, evidence-based, and shaped by the people most affected. 

The group is grounded in a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, health equity, transparency, respect for health workers, and working collaboratively across organisations and communities. 

Dr David Galler, spokesperson for Kaitiaki Hauora, says the group has been formed to strengthen collective voices in support of public healthcare. 

“We’ve come together because public healthcare matters to everyone. By working together across different parts of the health sector and community, we want to contribute to a stronger, fairer public health system for all – rich or poor, urban or rural.” 

Louisa Wall, Chair of the Tuwharetoa Iwi Māori Partnership Board, says Māori leadership and partnership are essential to the future of public health. 

“For Māori, a strong public health system must be grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and shaped by the voices of whānau, iwi and hapū. We’ve joined Kaitiaki Hauora because we believe publicly funded healthcare should be equitable, accessible, and designed in partnership with the communities it serves.” 

Kaitiaki Hauora brings together a wide range of voices, including Iwi Māori Partnership Boards, patient advocates, health sector unions, and community organisations. 

ENDS