POLICY workshops
Kia ora and welcome to the PHANZ Policy Workshop Series
This page hosts a series of short workshop webinars developed to accompany the release of upcoming PHANZ policy position statements. Each session includes a quick overview of the policy position, followed by a presentation from a public health expert who shares insights into the importance of policy and advocacy in improving health outcomes and addressing inequities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
These sessions are open to everyone — no membership login is required.
Nau mai, haere mai – we’re glad you’re here.
POLICY WORKSHOPS
PHANZ PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY - overview
17 June 2025
Host: Luke Garland, PHANZ Senior Policy Advisor
Overview of Workshop
This workshop provides an introduction to public health policy, outlining why and how the Public Health Association uses policy as a tool to improve the health of the population in Aotearoa New Zealand.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH
Date TBC
Host: Luke Garland, PHANZ Senior Policy Advisor
PHANZ Member Public Health Expert: Summer Wright
Policy Position Statement Overview:
This policy position statement highlights the challenges facing population health in Aotearoa New Zealand as a result of climate change. The statement supports a climate justice approach that places health, equity, and the voices, rights, and needs of those most impacted, at the heart of all climate action in Aotearoa New Zealand. The statement also supports maximising opportunities to improve health and health equity as part of climate change policy, and mitigation and adaptation strategies to combat climate change.
About our PHANZ Member Public Health Expert:
Summer Wright (Ngāti Maniapoto) is the Co-Convenor of OraTaiao (the Aotearoa NZ Climate & Health Council), which is a not-for-profit, politically non-partisan incorporated society that advocates for equitable, rapid, and regenerative climate action. Summer is a dietitian and a PhD candidate at Massey University. Based in Papaioea, she is currently investigating the opportunities for Māori businesses in plant-based foods. Summer is passionate about climate justice, health equity, and food sovereignty. She has also worked in disability as a youth worker and support worker.
SCHOOL-AGE NUTRITION AND KA ORA, KA AKO
24 June 2025
Host: Luke Garland, PHANZ Senior Policy Advisor
PHANZ Member Public Health Expert: Professor Lisa Te Morenga
Policy Position Statement Overview:
This policy position statement highlights the importance of food security and providing healthy food options for tamariki (children) and rangatahi (youth), and the resulting social, economic and health benefits for population health (both in the short and long term). In particular, the statement supports a robust, evidenced-based, community-centred and permanently funded Ka Ora, Ka Ako (Health School Lunches Programme) as a critical way of reducing the impact of food insecurity.
About our PHANZ Member Public Health Expert:
PHANZ member Lisa Te Morenga (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Te Uri o Hua, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa) is a nutrition and Māori health researcher based in the Massey University Research Centre for Hauora and Health, a Rutherford Discovery Fellow and Principle Investigator with the Riddet Centre of Research Excellence. Broadly her research interests relate to supporting individuals, whānau and communities to achieve good health through being able to access healthy affordable food. Lisa’s research is translational – applying basic nutrition evidence to enhance human health and wellbeing, and ultimately informing food and nutrition policy. She has been developing a programme of research on foods and their impact on health, particularly in Māori.
FRESHWATER AND HEALTH
12 June 2025
Host: Luke Garland, PHANZ Senior Policy Advisor
PHANZ Member Public Health Expert: Marnie Prickett
Policy Position Statement Overview:
This policy position statement supports a precautionary, equity-focused, and Te Tiriti-aligned response to freshwater policy, to improve and protect the ecological health of waterways, reduce nitrate contamination of drinking water sources, and restore the mauri (life force) of waterbodies to protect population health.
About our PHANZ Member Public Health Expert:
PHANZ member Marnie Prickett is a Research Fellow in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington. Marnie has a background in freshwater ecology and agricultural science. She has been an advisor to government on freshwater policy and to state-owned farming company Pāmu (Landcorp) on improving protection for the environment.
Her current work in the department focuses on analysis of freshwater policy and the communication of water issues, with a particular focus on drinking water source protection.
She is interested in improving landscape-scale decision making to protect and improve the health of communities and the natural environment.
COMMUNITY WATER FLUORIDATION
11 June 2025
Host: Luke Garland, PHANZ Senior Policy Advisor
PHANZ Member Public Health Expert: Heuiwon (Chris) Han
Policy Position Statement Overview:
This policy position statement supports the effectiveness, safety and cost-efficiency of community water fluoridation in improving oral health, and in reducing oral health inequities, in Aotearoa New Zealand.
About our PHANZ Member Public Health Expert:
PHANZ member Heuiwon (Chris) Han is an Oral Health Senior Lecturer at the Auckland University of Technology. Prior to his academic role, Chris worked in both public and private dental sectors, delivering comprehensive oral health care to diverse communities. Chris is serving as a community engagement director (executive member) of Te Ohu Pūniho Ora o Aotearoa – New Zealand Oral Health Association, as well as an editorial board member of the Australia and New Zealand Journal of Dental and Oral Health Therapy. In 2024, Chris joined the College of Oral Health Academics executive committee and has been appointed as a member of the Oral Health National Clinical Network (Te Whatu Ora), which aims to address accessible, integrated and equitable oral health outcomes.
