21 February 2023
Katherine Raue
By email:
[FYI request #21684 email]> Tēnā koe Katherine,
Official Information Act 1982 – OIA2023020102
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), received on 31
January 2023 for information regarding the installation of the korowai in the atrium of
Wellington Regional Hospital:
I request all information regarding the "traditional maori korowai" adorning the plinth in pride
of place in the atrium of Wellington hospital, including all communication, and all
information regarding consultation, sourcing, and installation of this hideous monstrosity,
and the large plaque placed prominently in front of the piece of pounamu on top of the
plinth.
The plinth, pounamu and korowai were installed just before the opening of the new
Wellington Regional Hospital on March 19 2009. Despite an extensive search, no written
record of the decisions regarding the purchase of the korowai have been found.
Most of the people who were involved in the decision to purchase the korowai are no longer
employed by Te Whatu Ora. However, two ex-staff recollect that the decision to purchase
a synthetic korowai and not to commission a taonga was influenced by two factors:
The korowai is on public display and is therefore susceptible to handling and
damage. Because it is synthetic, it is able to be dry cleaned.
It was believed that a synthetic korowai offered more longevity.
Who created it?
I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(e) of the Act, as no document
containing the information requested exist or, despite reasonable efforts to locate it, cannot
be found.
The purchase was 14 years ago. The korowai has no label or anything to indicate who
made it.
What consultation was undertaken? - please provide all information regarding the
consultation, and all communication, undertaken in regard to the installation of this piece of
synthetic fake fur that is referred to by Wellington Hospital as a "traditional maori korowai".
A copy of the minutes of the Māori Partnership Board with the relevant paragraph
highlighted is attached to this response.
How much money was spent on the sourcing and installation of this cheap nasty piece of
synthetic rubbish?
I am refusing this part of your request under section 18(e) of the Act, as no document
containing the information requested exists or, despite reasonable efforts to locate
it, cannot be found.
The purchase was made 14 years ago. We have been unable to find the specific record of
how much it cost.
This request was made to specific staff at Wellington hospital months ago. Since then
images of the "traditional korowai" and social media posts featuring images of it have been
removed from the internet. I specifically request copies of these images and any other
images of the "traditional maori korowai", and information regarding what type of feathers
adorn the top of it.
Please see two photos attached as Appendices.
Photos featuring the korowai in the atrium of Wellington Regional Hospital have been
posted on our social media pages several times over the years, including during September
2018 and January 2020.
The Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley Facebook pages were merged in late September
2022. To achieve this, one page (Capital & Coast DHB) was ‘merged’ into the other (Hutt
Valley DHB), with the page being renamed ‘Te Whatu Ora ‐ Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley’
to mark the change from DHBs to Te Whatu Ora. Al posts from the old ‘Capital & Coast
DHB’ page were automatically deleted as part of this process.
Photos featuring the korowai were not scrubbed from social media and some still exist on
our Twitter page
(https://twitter.com/TeWhatuOraCCHV )
If you have any questions, you can contact us at
[Health New Zealand request email]. If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman.
Information about how to do this is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800
802 602.
As this information may be of interest to other members of the public. Te Whatu Ora may proactively
release a copy of this response on our website. All requester data including your name and contact
details, will be removed prior to release. The released response will be made available on our
website.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Jamie Duncan
Interim Lead – Hospital and Specialist Services
Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
Capital, Coast | Private Bag 7902, Newtown, Wellington 6342 | 04 385 5999
Hutt Valley | Private Bag 31907, Lower Hutt 5010 | 04 566 6999
MINUTES OF MEETING
Maori Partnership Board
11th March 2009
Venue:
Te Taha Wairua
Level 1, Lotteries Commission Building
54 – 56 Cambridge Terrace, Wellington.
Date:
Wednesday 11th March 2009
Present:
Susan de Miguel (Chairperson), Peter Love, Jack Rikihana, Hilda Broadhurst, Jim Webber,
Attendants: Sam Jackson (Kaumatua), Leigh Andrews, Cheryl Goodyer on behalf of Riki Nia Nia.
Guests:
Alan Mackintosh and Steering/Implementation Group
Apologies:
Riki Nia Nia, Karen Coutts, Kayleen Katene & Herani Demuth (Deputy) for lateness.
under the
Item /
Agenda Item /
Discussion Points
Planned Action
Time
By Whom
1
Karakia
Sam Jackson
9.30am
2
Minutes of
Noted and all agreed to be true and correct.
Previous Meeting
held - 11th
Peter Moved / Jim Second
February 2009
3
Matters Arising
Nil
3
HIV Aids Project. Alan tabled numerous documents including Minutes of Steering/Implementation
Alan to provide statistics
Released
9.45am
Presentation
Group HIV Antenatal Screening Project, .Pamphlet in Te Reo- HIV Testing in
from the MOH website.
from Alan
Pregnancy. National Screening Unit Book.
Mackintosh and
Steering/Impleme
The team was seeking guidance on approaching maori communities and advised the
ntation Group
HIV Antenatal Screening Project would go live, late April.
See PowerPoint handout for notes of presentation.
Official Information Act 1982
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Some points for Maori covered in the presentation and discussions as follows:
Maori have low incident of HIV, but higher pregnancy rates.
A woman, who is HIV positive, is encouraged to NOT breastfed, which could
affect whanau if they don’t know the woman is positive.
If a woman is HIV positive she is allowed to take the placenta home.
Blood is not kept after the screening process – only the data is.
Maori mainly come into to contact with HIV through Bisexual Males and
Pacific people coming in and out of NZ.
the
The government allows a small percentage of infected refugees to come into
1982
the country. They are normally couples or a family unit.
14% live births are Maori. 24% terminations are Maori.
Peter Love said the data was inadequate and that would prefer to have Maori specific
Act
statistics or data.
Susan to write a letter of
MPB supported the HIV Antenatal Screening Project; The Chair would follow up with
under
feedback to Alan.
a letter and asked to be kept informed.
Herani Moved / Susan Second
4
NRH Opening
Susan thanked everyone for their support and participation in the NRH opening
Koha box and signage for
(debrief)
particularly KAG and then opened the floor for wider discussion.
Pounamu to be discussed at a
later date.
Some points that were made-
Waiata group was outstanding.
Letter to be written from the
Maori Partnership Board should have been seated together on the paipai.
MPB to CCDHB
Whakawatea was well attended by our Maori Community.
congratulating them on
Information
Pounamu stand was beautiful although the piupiu was removed.
attending our Whakawatea
Released
Jack may get a synthetic one made for longevity.
and opening the Hospital.
Jack thanked MPB and Sam/KAG for their leadership and direction and advised of
Herani Moved /
lots of positive feedback from other Kaumatua from outside the district.
Peter Second
Susan suggested having a thank-you get together for key people (KAG/Waiata group)
Susan to source venues.
involved in opening, maybe a BBQ within the city. A weekday was the preferred
choice.
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5
2009/2010 DAP
Alison presented DAP to board last week.
for discussion
Susan confirmed DAP articulated MPB relationship with the C&C DHB, priorities
and expectations as per letter to Sir John dated 19 December 2009.
MPB accepted the draft 2009/10 DAP in principal subject to receiving finalised
performance measures and budget and the relationship with DHB remaining constant
Also noted a further opportunity to feed into the final draft by May. The Board agreed
to advise accepting the draft DAP by letter to DHB board Chair.
the 1982
Jack Moved / Herani Second
6
Tu Kaha
Received and discussed.
Act
Conference –
Final Report
Board supported recommendations on page 15.
Herani Moved / Kayleen Second
under
7
RAG-M Update
The committee has met twice this year, and reviewed 6 proposals
Meeting dates for the year have been set.( consideration was given to sub
committee dates , and ethics committee timetable)
Colleen Wineera who has to date provided advice to researchers is no longer
available, hence the likelihood of an increase in the number of proposals
received by RAGM
It was considered timely to review the membership of the RAGM committee. MPB canvassing members to
Information
o
Released
MPB were asked for a replacement for Susan
replace Susan de Miguel to
o Herani confirmed her continued participation
have a replacement before
o Suggestions were taken for another researcher to be on the committee
next meeting
Jack proposed that Cheryl come on RAG-M as a representative of HHS as
she has a link with researchers/ clinicians etc and has a detailed knowledge NEXT MEETING:
of the processes.
1st April 2009.
Jack moved / Herani second 10am -12noon
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8
Priorities Hui
Pipitea Marae has been booked for 10 June 2009.
(Discuss)
CSG hui:
The Chair recommended the Communications Subgroup to meet to decide what will
Wed 1st April 2009
be the discussion topic and bring findings back to MPB hui on 8 April
12.30 – 2.30pm
10
Other Business
1. Jim asked what was happening with DHB land in Paraparaumu. Jack Rikihana
advised land had been ‘land banked’ until the Treaty Claim had been settled.
2. Jim advised of the new direct line van transport from Kapiti to Wellington
the 1982
Hospital which is staffed by 7 volunteer drivers put together by Southern
Jim to get timetable for
Cross. The Van’s can carry wheelchairs. Problems are parking in the hospital
Cheryl so that Whanau Care
and assistance for the elderly once they have been dropped off. Susan
can be down there to support
suggested that details be provided to Whanau Care Services to follow up.
patients when / if required.
Act
3. Carving for Atrium
A revised proposal was presented to MPB by Sam Jackson. The proposal has
under
come down in price as there is no need for the extra carvers or overtime.
Peter suggested deferring a carving because of the economic climate and the
current Ministry review and suggested looking at it again after the Ministry
review is completed in June
The two main concerns were timing and the material. It was agreed that it was
necessary to keep the process transparent and the extra time could be spent
sourcing more quotes.
Susan thanked Sam for getting quote from Winiata. Sam Jackson expressed his
Information
disappointment at not moving with the current proposal.
Released
12.30pm Meeting Finished
Sam Jackson closed the meeting with a Karakia
Next Meeting:
Date:
Wed 8th April 2009
Time:
9:30am to 3:00pm
Venue:
Te Taha Wairua
Level 1, Lotteries Commission Bldg
54 – 56 Cambridge Terrace, Wellington
Official
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the 1982
Act
under
Released
Information
Official
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Document Outline
