Whakarongorau Aotearoa // New Zealand Telehealth Services//

To begin sharing some of our key milestones from the past decade, we’re returning to 2021 - the year we became Whakarongorau Aotearoa // New Zealand Telehealth Services, formerly Homecare Medical. Whakarongorau is a word that describes the many ways we listen: with care, with intent, and through the channels people use to reach us. Our name was shaped with our kaimahi / staff, iwi partners, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, and contemporary Māori artist Wayne Youle, whose logo design was inspired by the whakataukī: He reo mārohirohi ka taringa rongohia - A brave voice deserves a sympathetic ear. Here’s the video that introduced our identity to Aotearoa. #10YearsTelehealthServices #TelehealthAotearoa #Whakarongorau #TelehealthPartnerships

A decade of being here for people, any time and any place. Our CEO, Glynis Sandland, kicks off our 10-year anniversary series with a look at what’s ahead. Follow along as we share real stories, milestones, and the impact of telehealth across Aotearoa. #10YearsTelehealthServices #TelehealthAotearoa #Whakarongorau #TelehealthPartnerships

When someone is in crisis, Dylan Norton's teams step in to provide a response that is culturally safe, consistent, and clinically sound. Last year their mahi meant: →10,000+ Police and ambulance contacts were triaged for a health response → 90% were able to be diverted away from those emergency services → 35,000 people were supported through 85,000+ after hours crisis calls to local crisis mental health services → 97% of those calls were diverted from an emergency response Integration and collaboration create better outcomes because clinical decisions can be made once, safely and consistently across the whole system, rather than repeated by separate services working in isolation. These numbers are a powerful example of what partnership and system integration can do across Aotearoa. Together we’re stronger. #10YearsTelehealthServices #TelehealthAotearoa #Whakarongorau #MentalHealthSupport

We’ve just wrapped up our time at eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) Toronto, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to share our journey with global colleagues. Here are the key ideas Glynis Sandland and Philip Grady highlighted in their presentation: → Start with equity, not efficiency. When barriers are removed, 61% of young people choose digital channels because that is where they feel safe reaching out. → Co-design from the beginning. Every Whakarongorau digital experience is shaped with tāngata whai ora and young people with lived experience, not added later as consultation. → Governance builds trust and adoption. Clinical, cultural, and youth oversight enabled 97% staff adoption of our AI tools. Our closing message: When funders and providers work in true partnership, and when young people guide the design, digital care can genuinely serve people rather than systems. #eMHIC2025 #Whakarongorau #HealthNZ #TelehealthNZ #EquityFirst #DigitalMentalHealth

Today, Glynis Sandland and Philip Grady are presenting at the eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) Summit, sharing how Whakarongorau Aotearoa and Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora are putting equity and youth voice at the centre of digital mental health. Our session explores the universal challenge: youth mental health demand is rising everywhere, and while AI offers scale and 24/7 access, it risks amplifying inequities if we’re not careful. We’re showing how our partnership model enables innovation – not just efficiency for systems, but real help for young people reaching out at 2am. We’ll highlight Te Korowai, our equity-first framework, co-designed with young people, clinicians, and indigenous leaders. Our approach is about trust, safety, and holistic wellbeing. We’re proud to share real stories from our services – voices that guide everything we build. If you’re at eMHIC, join us to discuss what equity-first AI could look like in your community. Let’s learn together and keep young people at the heart of digital care. #eMHIC2025 #Whakarongorau #HealthNZ #TelehealthNZ #EquityFirst #MentalHealthMatters

Digital care only works when people feel seen. We’re excited to be in Toronto for the eMHIC Global Digital Mental Health & Addiction Summit 2025, where Glynis Sandland (Whakarongorau Aotearoa CEO) and Philip Grady (Deputy Director-General of Mental Health and Addiction at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora) will explore how Aotearoa is weaving equity into digital mental health care. Our partnership with Health NZ shows what true funder-provider collaboration can enable. Every Whakarongorau initiative is co-designed with tāngata whai ora (people seeking wellness), ensuring technology serves people – not systems. Glynis will carry with her our Whakarongorau korowai, a traditional Māori cloak, representing our promise to weave manaakitanga – care and respect – through every digital thread. By connecting globally, we’re sharing what equity-first AI and telehealth can look like – and learning from others doing the same. If you’re attending eMental Health International Collaborative (eMHIC) Toronto 2025, come and say kia ora! #eMHIC2025 #Whakarongorau #HealthNZ #TelehealthNZ #EquityFirst #MentalHealthMatters