Total Healthcare PHO

18/09/2025

Our GM Kate Moodabe was interviewed this week on RNZ’s Nine to Noon about her decades-long fight for health equity:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2019004607/kate-moodabe-s-decades-long-fight-for-health-equity

Kate speaks so passionately about why local solutions to major health issues work when people collaborate with existing successful community projects in new environments that are closer to where people live.

Earlier this month Kate became the new 2025 New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards | He Tohu Mauri Ora ProPharma Supreme Winner in recognition of her ground-breaking mahi over close to 40 years. Read more: https://totalhealthcare.co.nz/news/supreme-national-primary-health-award-for-total-healthcare-gm/

07/09/2025

🎉We’re super proud that our GM Kate Moodabe was last night named the ProPharma Supreme Winner at the 2025 New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards | He Tohu Mauri Ora! Earlier in the evening Kate took out the award for Health CareHQ Outstanding Contribution to Health.

Judges praised Kate’s “abundance of energy, determination and leadership” that led to “remarkable, and measurable, outcomes” by making healthcare more accessible.

Kate’s career in healthcare stretches over nearly 40 years. Her ground-breaking, equity-driven mahi led to the national introduction of HPV self-testing to reduce cervical cancer deaths. Equally transformative was her idea of Total Healthcare PHO's partnership with Dave Letele’s BBM Motivation to introduce point-of-care testing in gyms to boost health screening and support for people who would never ordinarily have visited a GP. She’s also extremely proud and grateful for her earlier career at ProCare including getting primary care services into three rural marae.

At the awards ceremony Kate spoke of being absolutely floored, humbled, and thankful for her recognition at the awards. She paid tribute to her family, the Total Healthcare board and the amazing people she works alongside at Tamaki Health, the PHO's management support organisation.

01/08/2025

We’re so thrilled to share that our GM Kate Moodabe and Dr David Codyre from Tāmaki Health’s Wellness Support Team are the two finalists in the CareHQ Outstanding Contribution to Health category of the New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards | He Tohu Mauri Ora 2025. There were more than 150 entries in the national awards and organisers say it was a real challenge for the judges to select the finalists. We’re looking forward to the awards night on
6 September! Read more about the finalists: https://www.nzphawards.co.nz/2025-finalists

27/07/2025

Excitement is building in Ōtara about free Zumba-style dance classes for fun and fitness coming to their town centre – thanks to a partnership between Total Healthcare PHO and Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board. Pasifika elders have been dancing their way to wellness in Mangere and soon they will be able to join the dance party in Ōtara Town Centre. Read more: https://totalhealthcare.co.nz/news/total-healthcare-funding-gives-life-to-age-friendly-project-in-otara/

Pictured, from left, are: Gillianne Ray (Auckland Council), Apulu Reece Autagavaia, (Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board chair) and Total Healthcare PHO’s Mark Vella (CEO) and William Kato Ropata (board chair).

15/07/2025

We’re super excited about From the Couch’s big win picking up the Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award at the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards. BBM Motivation’s Dave Letele says the award is for the BBM whānau and everyone who believes in their mission to bring hope, health, and whānau-first fitness to communities. Total Healthcare is so proud to be a part of this whānau-first initiative.

01/06/2025

We’re thrilled that the PHO’s mahi is recognised twice in the King’s Honours! We congratulate Dame Ranjna Patel, Total Healthcare executive trustee and Gandhi Nivas, and Mana 4 Mums founder, and our CEO Mark Vella who is now an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit! Both are such worthy recipients for their services to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. Read more: https://totalhealthcare.co.nz/news/total-devotion-to-the-under-served-recognised-in-kings-honoursew-news-page/

27/04/2025

Ministers, police and the Governor General are praising the “phenomenal” impact of Gandhi Nivas in reducing family harm as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Events at Parliament and Government House marked this special occasion. Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro said Gandhi Nivas has shown it’s possible to rehabilitate offenders and achieve long-term change in behaviour and help heal families. Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said the initiative had made a “phenomenal difference” over 10 years and he was sure it would continue to do so. Read more: https://totalhealthcare.co.nz/news/gandhi-nivas-a-pathway-of-hope-for-family-harm-preventionnew-news-page/

30/01/2025

We’re so proud of Massey University research that praises the “powerful combination” of joining the community connections of BBM Motivation with the medical and professional resources of Total Healthcare. The partnership sparked a programme motivating significant numbers of people struggling with obesity to turn their lives around.

The free 12-week From the Couch (FTC) programme resulted from a partnership between Brown Buttabean, Total Healthcare PHO and Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora. It is supported by Local Doctors with GP clinic services.

Researchers say this partnership enables “long-term connectedness for people living with obesity and seeking positive lifestyle change. Long-term lifestyle change is the holy grail of weight loss programmes; this research suggests that FTC can be effective towards this end”.

The research that shows improved health results for FTC participants were “substantive and robust”. Read more: https://totalhealthcare.co.nz/news/massey-research-shows-power-of-community-and-medical-partnerships/

30/09/2024

We're so proud of the Wellness Support Team members and their achievement at these Australasian awards.

01/09/2024

Check out the news story below that helps explain why healthcare providers and PHOs, like us, are calling for more investment in primary healthcare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oum_hAT4mFQ
The story features Total Healthcare’s community liaison manager Lorenzo Kaisara and Tāmaki Health chief executive Lloyd McCann.

Patients said they sometimes waited five hours to see a doctor.

21/08/2024

We’re proud of our CEO Mark Vella's achievement of being a finalist in the prestigious inaugural Robert Walters’ New Zealand Leadership Awards. While he didn’t win the Hnry Innovation Leadership Award category he was nominated for, Mark was one of three finalists out of 65 entrants, amidst prestigious competition. Congratulations to the category winner John Rendall head of technology and innovation Animation Research, known for its groundbreaking projects, like the America’s Cup and The Masters Golf coverage.
Photo: Ranjna Patel (PHO board trustee), Dave Letele (From the Couch founder), Kate Moodabe (PHO general manager), Mark Vella.

22/07/2024

We’re excited to share that our CEO Mark Vella is a finalist in the Robert Walters New Zealand Leadership Awards for the Hnry Innovation Leadership Award. The innovation leadership award recognises leaders who drive innovation, spark change and contribute to the advancement of the sector they work in. Mark is among three finalists for the innovation award and winners are due to be announced on August 15. Read more: https://totalhealthcare.co.nz/news/ceo-mark-vella-a-finalist-in-national-innovation-leadership-award/