Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has
accepted an invitation to become Patron of Starship Child
Health – Aotearoa’s largest child healthcare
organization.
The appointment was announced
during Saturday’s Koroneihana celebrations at
Tūrangawaewae in Ngāruawāhia.
His Majesty’s
patronage will ensure a mokopuna-centric child health focus
under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) reforms launched during
Matariki in June.
This new approach will combine
bio-medical science and maatauranga Maaori to deliver and
maintain child health and wellbeing.
Kiingitanga Chief
of Staff Ngira Simmonds says Kiingi Tuheitia is humbled to
be the patron of Starship Child Health – an institution
that’s close to the King’s heart.
“During a
recent visit to Starship Hospital, the King was moved by the
dedication of the staff to protecting and healing the
children in their care.”
Opened in 1991, Starship
was New Zealand’s first hospital built exclusively for
children and their health needs, with a focus on
family-centred care in a child friendly
environment.
While Starship is an outstanding
healthcare provider, it also acknowledges that more needs to
be done to reduce inequities for Maaori, particularly those
outside
Auckland.
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