WellSouth’s Newborn Enrolment Kahu Taurima Programme wins at the New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards

The Newborn Enrolment Kahu Taurima Programme won the HALEO Best Supplier Service, Product or Campaign award at the New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards | He Tohu Mauri Ora in Auckland on Saturday 17 October 2026.  

Dr Miriama Ketu-McKenzie (WellSouth Pou Haumanu Māori, Clinical Advisor Māori) and Peter Elison (Pou Oraka Matua, Director of Māori Health and Equity) attended to accept the award.  

"This award belongs to our team, to the general practices across our region who make it happen, and to the whānau who trust us with their newest members," says Andrew Swanson-Dobbs, WellSouth Chief Executive.  

Kahu Taurima translates to "protective cloak of support and care" and focuses on the first 2,000 days. The programme ensures that every pēpi is enrolled with a GP from day one. Each kete welcomes baby to the world and includes a voucher for eligible primary caregivers to have their own wellbeing check at their general practice, because looking after pēpi starts with looking after the people caring for them.  

Once enrolled, the programme aims to boost timely enrolment for newborns and 6-week immunisation rates and connect families, particularly mums, to ongoing care for better long-term outcomes. The programme also works to reduce equity gaps and support practices in reaching immunisation target funding. Findings suggest a ripple effect, with the Kete acting as a catalyst for patients to encourage other whānau to enrol.   

"What we’ve learned so far is that every interaction a health professional has with their patients either increases or decreases their trust in the health system as a whole. By providing practices with something tangible, practical and useful that they can give to new caregivers, we are helping ensure that those early interactions are positive," says Dr Miriama Ketu-McKenzie.  

The second phase of the programme is expected to launch later in 2026. The second phase adds a phone call to new parents at three weeks to promote the Kete, offer an appointment for the 6-week WellChild checkup, assess any barriers to enrolment, and book the caregiver in for their funded checkup. 

This programme epitomizes the maxim ‘many hands make light work.’ While its design was influenced by general practice staff and local Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora  colleagues within public health, newborn hearing and midwifery teams, its delivery and implementation drew in staff from every team within Wellsouth, most notably, our practice partners. This award acknowledges that working together to build strong relationships between practices and their newest patients, helps establish a trajectory of life long health. We are delighted to have received this award. 

WellSouth thanks HALEO for sponsoring the category and The Health Media for a great night celebrating achievements across the motu. We also thank the general practices, partners and whānau who have supported the Newborn Enrolment Kahu Taurima Programme, and everyone involved in making it a success. We look forward to continuing this work with our partners and whānau.  

ENDS