Consumer Advisory Committee Members

Sandra Coney (chair)

Sandra is chair of the Auckland Regional Council Parks and Heritage Committee and has chaired the CAC since its establishment in 2002. Sandra has a long-standing interest in consumer rights and women’s issues. She has written widely on consumer and women’s health issues, including in 1987 co-authoring the landmark Metro article (with Phillida Bunkle) 'An Unfortunate Experiment', about the treatment of women with cervical cancer at National Women’s Hospital. The article led to the Committee of Inquiry headed by Silvia Cartwright, the establishment of the national cervical screening programme and the position of Health Commissioner.

Sandra co-founded the women’s health advocacy organisation Women’s Health Action and has served as a consumer representative on many health committees, including the committee that developed the New Zealand Health Strategy. She has also worked on a number of systematic reviews for the New Zealand Guidelines Group, and was the author of "Effective Consumer Voice and Participation in New Zealand: A Systematic Review of the Evidence" which is the foundation of the initiative to establish a national consumer body for New Zealand. She has two adult sons and lives in Auckland with her partner, a human rights lawyer.

Matiu Dickson (deputy chair)

Matiu’s tribal affiliation is to the iwi of Ngaiterangi of Tauranga Moana. His hapu is Ngaitukairangi and his marae is Hungahungatoroa marae. Matiu is a senior law lecturer at Waikato University. He is also an associate Dean Maori and acting Chairperson.

Matiu is the chair of the Hamilton urban authority and Maori Health Provider, Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa. He is also a member of the Hillcrest High School Board of Trustees. Though he is working in the Tainui (Waikato) area, Matiu retains strong links to his Tauranga Moana tribal area.

Matiu has an extensive knowledge of Maori tikanga and cultural practice of his iwi. He is an authority on kapa haka and the composition of waiata, judging at national and regional kapa haka festivals. Matiu lives in Hamilton and is married to Helen, they have six children.

Vicki Burnett

Vicki is a member of Epilepsy NZ and a founder member of the CAC. Vicki has experience of mental illness health and knowledge of the health sector. She has a particular interest in advocating for the rights of people with mental illness, including spending many years as a mental health advisor at local, regional and national levels. She enjoys living on Auckland’s North Shore.

Anne Fitisemanu

Anne is a New Zealand born Pacific woman who is currently the Programme Manager, Pacific Workforce Development and Pacific Cultural Competency Training, for Counties Manukau DHB.

Anne was appointed to CAC in 2009, and her work history, community participation, academic achievements and experience enable her to bring a strong and qualified Pacific perspective to the Committee. She is the current Chairperson of the AUT Faculty of Health Advisory Committee to the Bachelor of Nursing Programmes; the current Chairperson of Pacifica Women’s - Auckland Branch; a Trustee of the Waitakere Pacific Arts & Cultural Trust since 2005; and a co-founder and current treasurer of ‘FIA OLA Women’s Society’ (Pacific Women’s Well Being group).

Anne is married and a mother of seven children. She is passionate about seeing Pacific people fully engage and participate in decision making processes that impact on their wellbeing and development.

Maurice Gianotti

Maurice’s career in the public service includes positions as a teacher, school inspector, policy advisor, Chief Executive (Education Review Office), and Assistant State Services Commissioner and Complaints Investigator (ACC).

Maurice’s main occupation now is as a volunteer. He is involved in a number of organisations including Taupo Primary School (Chairman, Board of Trustees), Lake Taupo Hospice (Trustee) and the Taupo Citizens Advice Bureau.

Jennie Michel

Jennie lives in Auckland and currently works for Age Concern North Shore. She has previously worked for Alzheimer’s Foundation Auckland (now known as Alzheimers Auckland), and the Human Rights Commission. Jennie has served on committees or working parties for the Ministry of Health and Standards New Zealand on such topics as “Safety in Residential Care” and “Safe Usage of Restraints”.

A registered but non-practising nurse, Jennie’s experience means she has a good understanding of current health issues and the complex nature of health service delivery.

Dennis Paget

Dennis is a past member of the Grey Power New Zealand Federation Inc Board, the umbrella group for New Zealand's Grey Power movement that covers some 90,000 older New Zealanders. During his tenure on the Grey Power Board, Dennis served as Health Spokesman. He was awarded a Life Membership on his retirement from the Board. Dennis remains Vice President/Treasurer of Grey Power Marlborough, is a Voluntary Community Co-ordinator for the Office of Senior Citizens (Ministry of Development), and was awarded the MNZM for services to the elderly. He has a particular interest in health matters concerning the elderly.

Dennis emigrated to New Zealand after serving with the Merchant Navy during the second world war. He became involved with the trade union movement, and his experience in advocating for workers' rights has continued in his work with Grey Power. Dennis is retired and lives in Blenheim with his wife. This is his 3rd term on the CAC of which he is a founder member.

Kate Russell

Kate is the Chief Executive of Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand, an incorporated society “providing membership for regional groups, businesses and individuals who wish to work together in support of people with cystic fibrosis and their families”. She is the Vice Chair of the New Zealand Carers Alliance, a member of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand (FINZ) Ethics Committee and former FZINZ Board member. A former Vice-Chair of DARE Canterbury and former Regional Marketing and Funding Manager of CCS Canterbury West Coast, Kate has much knowledge and experience of, not only the processes surrounding the approval of medications for supply in New Zealand, but also the consumer perspective.

Kate lives in Christchurch with her husband and has three children.

Heather Thomson

Ngati Paeakau, Te Whanau a Apanui. Heather has a lengthy experience (over 20 years) working in the health sector, with a particular interest in maternal and neo natal health. While working at Auckland Area Health Board and Middlemore Hospital, Heather also provided advice at a national level into sector-wide working groups on topics such as child health, ethics, maternal health, cervical screening and adolescent sexuality.

Heather has also held positions on the Bay of Plenty DHB and the Public Health Commission, and is currently on the Medical Council. In 1994 Heather moved back to her tribal area near Te Kaha, in the east cape, where she manages the Te Kaha and Opotiki health services under contract.

Te Aniwa Tutara

Ngati Whatua. Te Aniwa is from Kaipara Harbour and has four living sons, aged 10 to 29 years. Te Aniwa was appointed to the CAC in 2004, and has 20+ years experience working in Maori health and social services management. Te Aniwa has a particular interest in Maori health and mental health. This has involved managing the local community mental health centre, crisis team and psychiatric acute unit in West Auckland (1988-1995) before she moved to work with the Regional Health Authority/Health Funding Authority (1995-99) and is now part of the Waitemata DHB Executive Leadership Team as the General Manager, Maori Health.

Page updated on 12 Oct 2009