Porirua has officially joined a nationwide campaign calling for urgent action to address Aotearoa’s deepening health crisis. The Buller Declaration, initiated by Malcolm Mulholland of Patient Voice Aotearoa, is gaining momentum as communities across the country add their voices to the call for better healthcare.
The Declaration began in Westport, where staffing shortages led to the closure of a local hospital for a month over the span of a year. It calls on the Government to address health inequities, particularly for Māori, rural, and low-income communities, and to take immediate steps to train, recruit, and retain more healthcare workers. It also urges collaboration with iwi and hapū to protect Māori health.
Porirua hosted a community meeting with Mulholland in March, drawing health professionals, councillors, and concerned residents. Following the meeting, Porirua City received its own copy of the Declaration and signature sheets.
Local advocate Sandra Meredith stepped forward to support the effort, ensuring residents had opportunities to sign. The first set of signatures was delivered by Meredith and her husband to Mulholland on 3 September, with Deputy Mayor Kylie Wihapi, Councillor Geoff Hayward, and Hiueni Nuku from PUCHealth present. Support also came from Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira.
“As a member of the public present concerned about health issues and services I offered to champion the document and found space for it to be signed,” Meredith said.
The national hikoi delivering the collected signatures to Parliament will take place on 18 November. The following day, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira will host a hui at Pātaka in Porirua to discuss health concerns and the next steps.
Those unable to attend the hikoi can still support the cause by signing the Declaration online at patientvoice.nz/petition.