Our submission period has ended. Thank you to all who shared their stories, thoughts, and ideas.

Hīkoi for Health Health Reform in Aotearoa: A People's Inquiry Phase 1 Complete! Phase 2 Begins...

Our Kaupapa/Mission:

We are two experienced doctors and poets who, like many other New Zealanders, are angered by the failure of successive governments to care for the taonga of our public health system.

We believe it is time for new ways to think about health and healthcare in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

We work in a system that seems to just put band-aids on band-aids. And now the whole mess is peeling off. We know we are not the only ones who are fed up and we’re not cheeky enough to think we have all the answers.

In what we called the Hīkoi for Health: A People’s Inquiry, we have driven 3120 kms around the motu in a refurbished van/ambulance (a ‘vanbulance’ for short) collecting your ideas for improvement. On May 8th on Parliament grounds, we shared some preliminary results from what we've found.

We will hold and store all your stories and in Phase 2 of our project we will review EVERY submission and draw from them common themes and suggestions. In Phase 3 we will attempt, with the help of some of the really amazing people we have met along the way, to craft some ideas for reform that address people's biggest concerns. In Phase 4, we will publish our findings and release them to all of you so that you can comment and help us refine it, so we can begin to use "the people's plan" to hold politicians accountable.

Anger into ACTION

Many of us are frustrated and angry at the state of the public health system. Use that energy by joining us in taking action!

Politics OUT OF Healthcare!

Healthcare decisions should be driven by science and data, healthcare professionals and patients, NOT politics!

People gathered in a park with signs, including a prominent yellow sign that reads 'WE WANT TO LIVE'. Individuals are seated on the grass, some in casual clothing and others in medical scrubs, suggesting a protest or public demonstration.

Health Reform NOW!

The health system is broken. Just throwing money at it won't work. It CAN and MUST be redesigned intelligently so that we get the care that we need when we need it!

Health BEGINS in the Community

The journey to health shouldn't start in hospitals, EDs, or even GP offices- it should start where people live, work, play, and worship

Four Pou of our Kaupapa:

Who We Are

We are doctor-poets and we have seen first hand the many ways our current health system fails our patients. For us, this inquiry is personal. This journey is a kind of living poem to which we can all contribute.

We are lobbying for for a redesigned New Zealand health system, free from politically motivated interference, and are inviting all to come out and share their stories and ideas for improvement.

3120 kms later!

Our Itinerary:

Here's the list of the places we stopped on our way from Te Tai Tokerau to Wellington!

* = wheelchair accessible

Day 1 - Saturday, April 26:

Kaitaia: Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa carpark*, 16 Matthews Ave. (opposite Saturday morning markets) 9.30 am - 11.30 am

Kerikeri: James Kemp Hall, 209 Kerikeri Rd, 2 pm - 4 pm

Day 2- Sunday, April 27:

**Whangārei: Hihiaua Cultural Centre*, 56-58 Herekino St, 11 am - 1 pm**

Day 3- Monday, April 28:

Auckland Central: Cricket Pavilion*, Auckland Domain, 10 am - 12 pm,

South Auckland: **Manurewa Marae Health Clinic*: 81 Finlayson Ave. Clendon Park, Manukau City, 2 pm-4 pm**

Day 4- Tuesday, April 29:

Hamilton: Te Kohao Health Clinic, 951 Wairere Rd, 12.00 pm - 2.00 pm

Day 5- Wednesday, April 30:

Whakatāne: Knox Presbyterian Church, 83a Domain Rd, 5-7 pm

Day 6- And on the 6th day they rested!

Day 7- Friday, May 2:

**Gisborne: Manawaru Cafe*, 675 Childers Rd, Elgin, 11 am-1 pm**

Day 8- Saturday, May 3:

**Hastings: Flaxmere Community Centre*, 30 Swansea Rd, 10am-12pm**

Day 9- A driving day (and some more rest!)

Day 10- Monday, May 5:

New Plymouth: Te Whare Hononga, Taranaki Cathedral, 39 Vivian St, 10 am -12 pm

**Whanganui: Moutoa Gardens*, Bates St, 3pm - 5pm**

Day 11- Tuesday, May 6:

Palmerston North: **The Railway Land Reserve (Skate Park)*, 10am - 12pm**

**Levin: The Village Green*, Cnr Queen St West and Salisbury St, 2pm - 4pm**

Day 12- Preparation for our trip to Wellington- the final push!

Day 13- Thursday, May 8:

Wellington, **Parliament grounds*, 1-3 pm**

people laughing and talking outside during daytime

Get Involved!

Phase 1 of our drive for healthcare reform may be over but there are still a few ways you can contribute to the kaupapa. Click below to find out more.

How you can contribute to the kaupapa

PROTEST. REFORM. CARE.

Te Waka Porotēhe.Te Waka Whakaora.Te Waka Manaaki.

As poets, we're always on the lookout for a good metaphor! And we couldn't pass up repurposing an old tradie van into a fanciful "ambulance" as a metaphor for taking something old and turning it into something new and beautiful. For rushing to the rescue of a gravely ill health system. For turning the current health system, which works like an "ambulance at the bottom of the cliff", providing care to Kiwis when they are already sick or injured, and turning it into one that focuses instead on keeping people and communities healthy.