Collaborative Aotearoa launches Pou Ora | Pillars of Health: A Reimagined Model of Primary Care
Friday, 8 August 2025
SECTOR UPDATE - Collaborative Aotearoa
Collaborative Aotearoa is proud to announce the launch of Pou Ora | Pillars of Health, a bold, future-focused model of care designed to transform how primary care is delivered across Aotearoa. Grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity, Pou Ora | Pillars of Health builds on the legacy of the Health Care Home model and reimagines a system where whānau thrive and kaimahi are empowered.
Developed in partnership with the sector, our members and lived experience advisors, the model introduces five interconnected pillars: Collaboration (Te Pou Hono), Access to Acute Care (Te Pou Ohotata), Innovation and Sustainability (Te Pou Auaha), Proactive and Preventive Care (Te Pou Karohia), and Workforce (Te Pou Kaimahi).
Co-Chair of Collaborative Aotearoa, Irihāpeti Mahuika, says, “Pou Ora is not just a framework, it’s a movement. It reflects our collective aspirations for a healthcare system that honours the mana of whānau, values cultural safety, and enables every team member to work fully within their scope. This is about designing with communities, not just for them.”
Co-Chair Andrew Swanson-Dobbs adds, “The journey to Pou Ora has been one of collaboration, learning, and deep reflection. As the needs of our people evolve, so must our care models. Pou Ora ensures that the future of primary care in Aotearoa is equitable, innovative, and grounded in the strengths of our communities.”
The model supports general practices to embed clinically safe, digitally enabled, and whānau-centred care. It provides practical tools to improve access, reduce barriers, and create a sustainable workforce across urban, rural, and remote communities.
CEO of Collaborative Aotearoa, Jess Morgan-French, notes, “Pou Ora is our collective response to the challenges primary care teams face today, from rising patient complexity to workforce burnout. It offers a framework that honours what has worked, while embracing new ways of delivering care that are grounded in, best practice, innovation and partnership.”
With a focus on implementation, Collaborative Aotearoa will be supporting practices and primary care organisations members across the motu to adopt and adapt the Pou Ora model, enabling sustainable transformation tailored to local contexts.
Source: Collaborative Aotearoa media release
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