Te Aka Whai Ora appoints Selah Hart as Deputy Chief Executive (DCE) Public and Population Health

Te Aka Whai Ora is pleased to announce the appointment of Selah Hart as Maiaka Hāpori | Deputy Chief Executive Public and Population Health. Partnering with Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, the newly created position will provide leadership across public health.

Selah is of Ngāti Kuia, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Apa Ki Te Ra To, and Ngāti Kahungungu ki Wairarapa whakapapa and brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked for Hāpai Te Hauora since 2009 and as their CEO since 2019. Selah will be responsible for leading the Public and Population Health team, ensuring best practice approaches to workplace relations are at the heart of leading and managing the service.

“I am excited to be joining Te Aka Whai Ora and contributing to its mission of advancing Māori health outcomes,” says Selah.

“Enabling communities to thrive is critical, as is dismantling those systems throughout our society that don’t serve our people, so that we can achieve hauora. I am determined to lead our public and population health system to ensuring health equity is achieved and reversing the poor outcomes that disproportionately burden our whānau.”

Chief Executive of Te Aka Whai Ora, Riana Manuel is delighted to have Selah join the team in this role.

“Selah’s deep understanding of Māori public and population health and her experience in leading teams will be critical in ensuring that our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi continues to underpin our approaches to public and population health,” says Riana.

“Selah will work closely with our iwi-Māori partnership boards, regional and district teams, and the wider community to ensure Māori voices are heard, and health equity for Māori is non-negotiable.”

Selah starts her new role on 13th March 2023.