Te Whare o Rehua, the medical subsidiary of Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, has appointed respected clinician Dr Lorraine Brooking (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tuhoe) as the independent chair of its Clinical Oversight Group.

Te Whare o Rehua board chair Fiona Wiremu says Dr Brooking’s appointment reflects Te Whare o Rehua’s commitment to Māori-led, whānau-centred clinical governance grounded in equity, cultural integrity, and excellence in care.

“At the heart of our work is a Whānau Ora approach – recognising the strengths, aspirations, and interconnected wellbeing of whānau.

“Dr Brooking brings deep clinical expertise and a strong understanding of the needs of Māori communities, making her an ideal fit for our model of care across Mataatua,” said Ms Wiremu.

The Clinical Oversight Group plays a critical role in ensuring Te Whare o Rehua delivers safe, effective, and culturally responsive clinical services.

The group provides independent oversight of clinical systems, sets standards and policies, and monitors quality across all services.

Dr Brooking trained under Dr Paratene Ngata as a rural general practitioner and rural hospitalist.

Since then, she has spent much of her career serving rural and remote communities in Aotearoa and Australia.

Her experience spans both primary and secondary care, with a strong focus on improving access, strengthening clinical systems, and addressing health inequities.

Ms Wiremu said Dr Brooking brought a balanced perspective that combined clinical practice, research, and governance.

“She understands the importance of strong, independent clinical oversight and brings academic rigour, governance experience, and a practical understanding of the realities facing whānau and clinicians,” she said.

Dr Brooking holds a MBChB (Otago) and a PhD (Otago) in diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention – and has led research advancing equity in health outcomes, including work on social determinants, cervical screening for wāhine Māori, and long-term conditions.

She is the clinical director for Te Hiku Hauora and for Mahitahi Hauora PHE, where she has led multi-disciplinary teams to reduce barriers to care and strengthen clinical leadership at regional and national levels.

Te Whare o Rehua includes Rehua Medical, Rehua Nuku Ora Mobile Clinic, Rehua Tūahiahi After-Hours Clinic and Ngā Ringa Kōkōmuka|Rongoā Māori Clinic all in Kōpeopeo, Whakatāne.