The patron of a unit at Auckland’s Starship Hospital that treats abused children says it is making a fresh start.
Staff alleged bullying at the Te Puaruruhau unit, and one worker who quit said the ructions eroded the service for children.
Dame Naida Glavish said she was aware of the past problems but was in regular meetings as the unit rebuilds.
“It’s working extremely well right now and I have no concerns whatsover,” she told RNZ.
Iwi Ngāti Whātua, that partners with Starship, would mark the fresh start with a cleansing karakia at the unit soon.
“The energy fields, the mauri, that are in the building still, we will actually do a karakia to clear negative energies,” Glavish said.
The ructions since late 2022 had disrupted the roles of kaumatua and kai āwhina at the unit, as well as clinicians’ resignations, according to the ex-staffer and other sources.
Glavish said she was now in regular meetings with management.
“My service He Kāmaka Waiora has a council of elders and that council are working in closely … within the whole of Starship including the hospital and Puaruruhau.
“It’s essential, it’s absolutely essential.”
Health New Zealand has said three new staff had joined the unit since August 2024 – two social workers and a medical fellow in a fixed-term senior training role.
“We’re actively rebuilding the team and our priority is ensuring we are providing a safe, supportive and respectful workplace, and we are really appreciative and encouraging of staff involvement as we do this.”
It was working on appointing a new clinical director to lead Te Puaruruhau, a role it said was open to all clinical staff, including doctors.
rnz.co.nz
