Project Maggie
Bringing life to one Te Waipounamu entity.
Purpose / Whāinga
Maggie will explore the feasibility of uniting the four separate Te Waipounamu regions into one single entity, and develop the business case for how this new entity can be brought to life to deliver on the vision of providing greater benefits to whānau and communities across Te Waipounamu.
Alongside this, Maggie will operationalise formal collaboration between the two current Te Waipounamu divisions, Canterbury West-Coast and Otago Southland. These regions are eager to pursue the benefits that working together will bring to the whānau and communities they support and have therefore prioritised this work as part of the project.
There are two major milestones for the project:
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By end August 2023 - delivery of the plan to operationalise collaboration between CWC and OS, to the two Divisional Boards for review/decision.
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By end October 2023 - delivery of the business case for unification, to the four Boards for decision.
Origins / Whakapapa
Over the years there have been discussions between the Otago Southland and Canterbury West-Coast divisions about joining forces and operating as one. For various reasons these discussions didn’t progress any further, until mid 2022, when the Boards and Chief Executives of the two Divisions met in Timaru to reignite this discussion.
The meeting was very positive and resulted in a renewed commitment to exploring the benefits of a South Island/Te Waipounamu entity that would result in improved outcomes for whānau, reduced costs and duplication, increased efficiencies, sustainable revenue streams and opportunities for kaimahi.
The Nelson-Tasman and Marlborough Boards were invited to join the discussions and decide if they would be interested in having a further kōrero on this. This culminated in an agreement to explore the feasibility of this exciting vision for the future - and so, Project Maggie was born.
Meet the Maggie Team
Transition Advisory Group (TAG)
The TAG is a subset of the four regional governance groups, formed to represent the individual interests of each region. Comprising one Board member from each region and an independent Chairperson, they will meet regularly to oversee project progress, provide a voice for their region on project activities, and are responsible for investigating and designing the governance arrangements of the future entity that will become part of the final business case.
Your TAG members are:
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Kath Conlan - Independent Chair
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Ian MacLennan - Nelson Tasman
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Michelle Donnelly - Marlborough
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Lesley Brooks - Otago/Southland
Transition Manager
Responsible for delivering the business case and all the work in between to achieve this, the focus of this role is on exploring how we can operationalise a Te Waipounamu entity. This includes looking at the benefits for whānau, maximising donor contributions, leveraging size and scale across the health sector for greater impact and creating efficiencies in how we work. The Transition Manager will also provide support to the TAG as they explore the governance aspects of the project.
Meredith Woodsford, People Experience Manager from the Canterbury West-Coast Division has been appointed into this role for a period of six months.
Meredith has a background in organisation design, change management and human resources. She lives in Banks Peninsula with her tāne Mick and has whānau in Nelson and Marlborough. She most recently worked for Farmlands Co-operative Society with strong ties into the same communities we serve. Prior to this, Meredith worked for the Canterbury and West Coast DHB and has a good understanding of the health sector.
There are a number of people involved with Maggie - from members of your regional Board to some of your local colleagues. Check out below who's involved and what they're responsible for.
Kaimahi Advisory Group (KAG)
To shape how we run this project, facilitate input from all four Te Waipounamu regions, and test and check ideas and thinking, we've formed the KAG group of kaimahi comprised of a representative from each region. They will meet regularly during the project and ensure a two-way flow of communication between the project and our kaimahi.
Michelle Hunt Centre Manager.
Nelson Tasman
Marlborough
Felicity Spencer
Te Uri o Hau Ngati Whatua
Centre Manager.
Michelle has been Centre Manager for Cancer Society Nelson Tasman since 2016. She grew up in the deep south Invercargill and Queenstown, attended university at Otago and moved to Whakatū in 1997 to work at Sealord. Michelle then spent 19 years in the fishing industry as a Business Analyst and in Marketing. As well as being Centre Manager with three staff - Cyndy Smith, Vick Sharp and Barb Kotua, she is also the Fundraising Manager, Health Promotor and provides cover for Supportive Care and Volunteering. This gives her a unique understanding of all facets of the Nelson operation - perfect for being part of the Kaimahi Advisory Group.
I grew up in a small community in Northland and moved to Marlborough 15 years ago. I'm married to Mark and have 4 tamariki and strong family values which underpin my passion for the health and wellbeing of community, particularly, whānau Māori. I've worked for Nelson Marlborough District Health Board for 12 years and as part of Te Waka Hauora, the Māori health team as a Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa (portfolio manager) for Child & Maternal Health. I'm currently the Centre Manager for the Marlborough Centre. we have a small team but serve a connected and well-defined community. I'm looking forward to working as part of the kamahi Advisory group and working through the benefits for our 'Marlborough' Maggie!
Canterbury West-Coast
Otago Southland
Amanda and her whānau moved to New Zealand from Liverpool 10 years ago and in that same year she joined the Cancer Society. She's passionate about reducing cancer risk and involving communities in this too. With a husband working in public health for Te Whatu Ora and two teenage boys she's definitely got her hands full! Prior to joining the Cancer Society Amanda worked with an HIV/AIDS charity, a community health forum and for voluntary sector infrastructure agency. She's also spent time in local government championing child protection and workforce development.
Jonet Warhurst, Fundraising
jonet.warhurst@
cansoc.org.nz
With a strong passion for supporting individuals affected by cancer, Jonet also holds the division's Marketing and Fundraising Manager role. Since joining the Cancer Society in 2019, Jonet has been dedicated to fostering collaboration and building closer relationships. Jonet is committed and excited to move towards a South Island entity and achieve mutually beneficial working relationships to ensure that, as a combined Cancer Society, we can reach more cancer patients and increase our advocacy power.
Project Principles
Following discussions between the four governance groups in Feb 2023, a 'Heads of Agreement' was signed by the Board Chairs. This sets out an agreed set of principles to work by in determining the feasibility and process for a potential South Island Cancer Society.
The Heads agreed that the principles underpinning their collaboration in this Project are to:
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Commit to the process, and engage in good faith towards the creation of a South Island entity
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Ensure confidentiality, respecting and protecting the work of our 4 regions during this informative process
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Work together in a professional and co-operative manner
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Identify and address issues at an early stage
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Have a constructive, honest and co-operative approach to complete work in a timely manner
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Achieve a closer and mutually beneficial working relationship
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Have transparency and accountability
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Adopt innovative and challenging mindsets
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Work collaboratively to minimise the risk to the Cancer Society, brand and people it serves
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Make decisions by consensus
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Speak with one voice externally
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Represent the views of their Boards
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Do all things reasonably necessary to achieve the success of the Project
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It is the intention of the parties to form a single entity as soon as practical
This agreement remains in place until the single South Island entity is formed or until one of the four regions decides it is not in their best interest to amalgamate and withdraws without prejudice.