Te Kainga o Whaiora

Whaiora announcement

Ngā mihi nui ki a koe

On behalf of the Whaiora Board, we are excited to share a significant development at Whaiora Whānui Trust. As part of our dedication to excellence and sustainability, we are announcing a leadership transition.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Jake Carlson to the role of Kaihautū / GM at Whaiora. Jake is a respected health leader and clinician with over a decade of experience in emergency services, operational leadership, and kaupapa Māori health. Starting his career as a paramedic, he advanced through specialist and senior roles within the ambulance service before moving into district health board leadership, where he oversaw acute hospital services and large multidisciplinary teams.

Since joining Whaiora as Pou Whakahaere, Jake has demonstrated exceptional leadership, driving whānau-centred transformation, embedding mātauranga Māori in service design, and strengthening operational delivery. He also brings valuable governance experience and is deeply connected to his community, serving as deputy chair of Ngāi Tūmapūhia-a-Rangi Hapū. A proud father of three, Jake leads with compassion, clarity, and integrity. We are thrilled to welcome him into this role as we continue to grow and evolve our mahi for the benefit of our whānau and the wider community.

Triny will be transitioning into a newly established role as Ōhanga Kaitātaki (Chief Finance Officer). Triny has served as GM at Whaiora for the past 14 years, demonstrating unwavering commitment and dedication in leading the organisation through continuous change and development in an evolving environment. She is excited to step into this new role to support Whaiora’s future strategic direction and will continue to be a key part of the backbone that drives the organisation forward.

We would also like to take this opportunity to pay homage to Dr. Janice Wenn, Aunty Mihi, and Aunty Sally, our kuia, for their wisdom, support, and awhi since the establishment of Whaiora. The vision and foresight of Janice (and Tā Kim) in creating by Māori, for Māori, with Māori quality primary health and social services for Wairarapa began in 1995. As we approach 2025, marking 30 years of our journey, we remain committed to upholding this legacy for the health and wellbeing of our community and mokopuna.

We congratulate Jake on his appointment as Kaihautū. We acknowledge that transitions can bring about questions, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and open communication throughout this process. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We truly value the relationships we have built and look forward to continuing this important mahi together.

Mauri ora

Teresea Olsen
Chair

Medical Services

Our Medical Centre is open to our clients; however, we wish to inform you that GP and nurse practitioner consultations are currently available through virtual appointments until further notice.

To book an appointment please contact Whaiora on 0800 494 246. If you have any flu-like symptoms, please let us know when you call. We’ll make a plan together and advise you over the phone on the next steps.

Community Services

Our Community Services is open to our clients. Our kaimahi will continue to support you. They’ll be in contact with you either by phone, email or video link. 

Update your contact details

Help us to keep your records current by updating your information. We need to know if you have recently moved or changed your name, email address or phone number. We are also keen to know if you are a non-smoker, an ex-smoker or a current smoker.