Media Release
Ngāti Hine Health Trust pays tribute to outgoing CEO
The Board of Ngāti Hine Health Trust (NHHT) has today announced Geoff Milner’s resignation as CEO.
Ngāti Hine Health Trust Chair Rowena Tana (QSM) says Geoff has successfully led the organisation since 2017, amidst the unsettling challenges of Covid-19.
“Geoff has been instrumental in the significant growth and development of NHHT, as it has become a community wellbeing leader providing services within Te Tai Tokerau,” says Rowena.
“Geoff has guided a team that has grown NHHT to over 400 kaimahi with more than 100 funding contracts/agreements supporting numerous sectors; from health and disability support to mental health and addictions, primary care, justice, corrections, housing, education, social services, reo irirangi Māori and Whānau Ora.”
The influence, positive impact and success of NHHT was clear in the Covid-19 response, where the organisation was pivotal in providing essential community support alongside other providers in Te Tai Tokerau.
Geoff and the dedicated NHHT team have been advocates for communities in need by supporting ongoing outreach clinics in hard to reach and rural areas. His determination to ensure Māori whānau are well supported and represented leaves a lasting impression.
More recently, Geoff’s leadership has contributed to the establishment of Te Ara Tū o Ngāti Hine, where NHHT has leased part of the new state-of-the-art building at the Bay of Islands Hospital to deliver an integrated whānau wellness centre at Paparātā, which combines improved general practitioner services and an expanded shared support model for its doctors.”
Geoff has also played a strong role in the Ranfurly Street Social Housing development - NHHT’s most significant project since our establishment in 1992, which is a $30m investment to build 35 homes in Moerewa by early 2025 to cater for ongoing whānau needs.
In addition, the NHHT Board believes Geoff’s support of the newly launched Māori regional news service ‘te kūkupa’ - a collaboration between Ngāti Hine FM and iwi media partners Tautoko FM and Te Hiku Media, will strengthen the presence of Māori media in Te Tai Tokerau in years to come.
“On behalf of the Board of Ngāti Hine Health Trust, we wish Geoff all the best with this next part of his journey and thank him for his contribution to the success of Ngāti Hine Health Trust,” says Rowena.
"He mihi nui rawa atu tēnei kia koe e Geoff, mo wou mahi rangatira mo te hauora o Ngāti Hine. Mauri ora."
