Media release
Twenty-two finalists in New Zealand Health Innovation Awards
22 May 2007
The elderly, people with mental health needs and teenagers are just some of those benefiting from the 22 projects chosen
as finalists in the 2007 New Zealand Health Innovation Awards (HIA).
The New Zealand Health Innovation Awards are a long-standing joint initiative by the Ministry of Health and ACC. They
celebrate innovative thinking and, often, life changing developments in the health field.
Finalists include a project which helps people with on-going mental health issues find good quality, stable,
accommodation in Hawke’s Bay, a menstrual health and endometriosis teaching programme for use in secondary schools, and
a project that helps the elderly set life goals to improve their fitness levels.
This year there were nearly 190 entries, compared with 111 last year.
Six of the finalists are from the Canterbury region, six are from Auckland, five are from Hawke’s Bay, four are from
Waikato, and there is one from South Canterbury.
“The New Zealand Health Innovation Awards celebrate the innovation of New Zealand’s health professionals and showcase
some of the excellent developments and improvements within our health service,” said Ministry of Health spokesman Dr
Colin Feek, announcing the finalists.
“New Zealand is showing it is at the cutting edge when it comes to progressive thinking and the development of ideas.
We’ve seen previous winners attract international acclaim.”
Dr Jan White, Chief Executive of ACC said "the New Zealand Health Innovation Awards have established a reputation for
showcasing original, and often ground breaking, developments in the health arena. ACC is very pleased to work with the
Ministry of Health to ensure that original thinking is celebrated and, ultimately, utilised to improve the health of New
Zealanders."
The HIA began in 2003. In 2007 there are eight categories:
• Excellence in Primary Health Care
• Excellence in Quality Improvement
• Excellence in Prevention
• Excellence in Rehabilitation
• Excellence in Treatment
• Innovation
• Process Improvement
• People's Choice
This year’s HIA winners will be announced at the HIA expo and gala dinner held on 10 October at the Wellington Town
Hall.
ends