He Ara Tangata Consumer Reference Group

He Ara Tangata is a key advisory group to Te Aho o Te Kahu. It has up to 12 members who provide advice on our work, based on their lived experience of cancer. He Ara Tangata is not a decision-making body but makes an important contribution to our work programme. Establishing a consumer reference group demonstrated the Agency's commitment to hearing the voices of people living with cancer and their whānau. 

Te Aho o Te Kahu focuses on cancer at a systems level and works to address systemic issues, rather than specific issues relating to individuals affected by cancer. That means members of He Ara Tangata are not appointed to represent a particular tumour type, group of people or region. Instead, members use their insights and lived experience to give us advice on a wide range of cancer issues. 

He Ara Tangata meets quarterly, with at least one in-person meeting each year. Meetings are either a half day or a full day and we cover travel costs when the group meets in person. Occasionally, members are also asked to provide expertise and advice on specific Agency projects. More detail on how the He Ara Tangata operates are in the group's Terms of Reference (Pdf 2mb). 

Membership

Chair: Vivian Hahipene

Deputy Chair: Erolia Eteuati-Rooney

Members

Claire Doole 

Garth Clarricoats 

Hoani Hakaraia

Joanne Doherty

Jodie Collins

Juanita Rapana

Maureen Taane

Roz Tuitama

Thomas Ngaruhe

Vonda Nepia.