Our People

Trustees

Pat Seymour OBE, Dip Business Studies (Chairperson) Resident East Coast 35 years, Farming Partner and businesswoman, 30 years active involvement in issues of Community. 15 years Hospital, Health Board and Crown Company member and Chair. Wide Governance experience nationally. Current Gisborne District Councillor.

Ying Foon Hello I am Ying Foon mum of Jessica, Amanda and Nathan, graduated as an Executive Secretary. Since being married I have been in business for over 25 years. I currently own the $2 Shop Franchise in Gisborne and Wairoa. I am also Mayoress due to my husband being the Mayor of Gisborne. Member of the NZ Federation of Business and Professional Women Inc.

Patrick McHugh BMedSc, MB, ChB, Dip GUMed, Dip MSM, Dip ComEmerMed, FAMPA Completed degrees in Medical Science and Medicine from the University of Otago, a ten-year spell in General Practice and the last nine years has been Medical Director of the Gisborne Hospital Emergency Department. Has also trained in Musculo-skeletal medicine, Bowen Therapy, Healing Touch, Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and various forms of meditation.

Rick Mansell B.Ed and M.Sc Economic Development Manager for Gisborne District Council; Member of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Eastland Trust Board, Executive of Heart of Gisborne, Executive of Thistle Soccer Club and Secretary of Gisborne Rotary West; Former Senior Lecturer at Lincoln University (NZ); Waterloo University and Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada); Former Manager of Leisure Services (Calgary - Canada); Vice-Chairperson of Entertainment - Calgary Olympic Games; Former Chairperson - University of Illinois Hospital Board.

Bob Proudfoot ACA A Chartered Accountant with over 30 years experience in public practice, Bob is a past Deputy Chairperson of the Tairawhiti District Hospital Board, past President of the Chartered Accountant Society Gisborne Branch, past Chairperson of the St Mary’s School Board, past President of Gisborne West Rotary Club and has served on the Board of the Gisborne YMCA and other community bodies.

Phil Silva OBE Dr Silva was elected Chairman of the D.A.R.E. Foundation of New Zealand in 2001. In addition, he is currently a part-time Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health Studies, Auckland University of Technology and a Principal Investigator in the Pacific Islands Families Study. He is also an international research consultant including Consultant to the Prospective Cohort Study of Thai Children. The Founding Director and now Director Emeritus of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, a thirty year longitudinal study of the health and development of approximately 1,000 Dunedin young people. This Study is internationally recognised as the most comprehensive and productive longitudinal study of human health and development that has ever been carried out. Author of over 400 articles and books on health, education and human development, he has attracted over $30,000,000 in support of his research over a thirty year period. He was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) in 1994 for services to New Zealand.

Ben Tahata Born, raised and educated in Tairawhiti. CEO Port Gisborne for 16 years. CCS Tairawhiti and Hawke’s Bay Co-Chair for L.A.C. CCS National Board Member. RSA Gisborne Executive member. 28th Maori Battalion President, Gisborne Branch. Chairperson of numerous Farming Incorporations. Chairperson of Ngati Porou Hauora Inc.

Turu Tatare QSM Turu contributes learnings from her educational background and commitment to Maori culture. Former cultural adviser to CYFS; Regional Executive member of Maori Women’s Welfare League; Maori Wardens member and kapa haka tutor and judge since 1961.

J N Marcus Williams B Com A pioneering deer farmer who progressed through understanding the medicinal value of deer velvet to the underlying health paradigm of traditional Chinese medicine. Initiator of the Great NZ Smoke Free week 1986. Founder of the TCST (Awhina House) Trust delivering wide ranging community based services focusing on Drug & Alcohol problems in Tairawhiti.

Executive Working Group

Bruce Duncan MBChB, MSc, MRCGP, MFPHM, FAFPHM, DCH Born in Scotland, Bruce trained in Aberdeen, specialising in General Practice and later Public Health Medicine. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1997 to take up the post of Medical Officer of Health for Tairawhiti. While retaining his MOH role, he currently is the Chief Medical Advisor, Gisborne Hospital, Tairawhiti District Health.

Patrick McHugh BMedSc, MB, ChB, Dip GUMed, Dip MSM, Dip ComEmerMed, FAMPA Completed degrees in Medical Science and Medicine from the University of Otago, a ten-year spell in General Practice and the last nine years has been Medical Director of the Gisborne Hospital Emergency Department. Has also trained in Musculo-skeletal medicine, Bowen Therapy, Healing Touch, Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and various forms of meditation.

Rick Mansell B.Ed and M.Sc Economic Development Manager for Gisborne District Council; Member of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Eastland Trust Board, Executive of Heart of Gisborne, Executive of Thistle Soccer Club and Secretary of Gisborne Rotary West; Former Senior Lecturer at Lincoln University (NZ); Waterloo University and Wilfrid Laurier University (Canada); Former Manager of Leisure Services (Calgary - Canada); Vice-Chairperson of Entertainment - Calgary Olympic Games; Former Chairperson - University of Illinois Hospital Board.

Paul O’Connor Paul is a senior practitioner with New Zealand Bowen Therapy Inc. He believes that our health burden can be better shared, when complementary therapies are integrated with primary health care. To make this happen, proper medical research is needed to prove efficacy and safety.

Craig Wilson MD, MPH, FACPM Craig is a graduate of the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and has worked in Primary Care, Preventive Medicine, and Public Health with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, Tairawhiti District Health, and the World Health Organisation.  Craig has a long-term interest and commitment to Traditional and Complementary Medicines since Yoga and Ayurvedic studies in India and post-graduate work in Phytotherapy and Osteopathy.