The patron of a unit at Auckland’s Starship Hospital that treats abused children says it is making a fresh start.<\/p>\n
Staff alleged bullying at the Te Puaruruhau unit, and one worker who quit said the ructions eroded the service for children.<\/p>\n
Dame Naida Glavish said she was aware of the past problems but was in regular meetings as the unit rebuilds.<\/p>\n
“It’s working extremely well right now and I have no concerns whatsover,” she told RNZ.<\/p>\n
Iwi Ng\u0101ti Wh\u0101tua, that partners with Starship, would mark the fresh start with a cleansing karakia at the unit soon.<\/p>\n
“The energy fields, the mauri, that are in the building still, we will actually do a karakia to clear negative energies,” Glavish said.<\/p>\n
The ructions since late 2022 had disrupted the roles of kaumatua and kai \u0101whina at the unit, as well as clinicians’ resignations, according to the ex-staffer and other sources.<\/p>\n
Glavish said she was now in regular meetings with management.<\/p>\n
“My service He K\u0101maka Waiora has a council of elders and that council are working in closely … within the whole of Starship including the hospital and Puaruruhau.<\/p>\n
“It’s essential, it’s absolutely essential.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n