Kevin Pewhairangi is focused on sharing his knowledge of tikanga Māori within his pharmacy and medical work.
Alongside his wife, Kasey Brown, Kevin is the first Naati Māori Pharmacist to own a pharmacy in Te Tairawhiti Gisborne. His work at the pharmacy ensures community members follow through with medical care and treatment after seeing a doctor.
In his pharmacy, he hopes to create a whānau-focused environment that improves people's access to professional health care and advice. Kevin is constantly looking at pushing the boundaries of pharmacy service to evolve pharmacy service to improve health outcomes for Māori and support the struggling system.
Kevin continues to push the boundaries of pharmacy services, evolving practices to better serve Māori communities. Soon, he will open a second pharmacy in partnership with Ngāti Porou Oranga’s Puhi Kai Iti clinic, called Rauru Pharmacy. This expansion further supports his mission to improve health care accessibility for Māori in Te Tairāwhiti.
He has previously worked as the President of Ngā Kaitiaki o Te Puna Rongoā, the Māori Pharmacists' Association. During his time, he focused on improving health outcomes for Māori and applying cultural knowledge to the pharmacy practice. In 2020, the Association went into partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society. Kevin supported and provided knowledge of tikanga Māori to help guide the Society on their journey in addressing issues of cultural safety and inequity in health outcomes for Māori.
Kevin is also a trustee for Te Whānau a Ruataupare on the Kapuarangi Trust, which manages the Customary Marine Title in Tokomaru Bay. Additionally, he remains active in cultural pursuits, preparing to perform with Te Hokowhitu a Tū at next year’s Te Matatini o te Kāhui Maunga.
Kevin is very concerned with the current political environment and its implications for Māori and Pasifika health outcomes. He hopes that those who claim a whakapapa Māori let their ngākau Māori guide them for the betterment of Aotearoa.
Links:
Whakatau for Kevin Pewhairangi
President of Māori Pharmacists Association appointed to Pharmaceutical Society's National Executive.
Gizzy local – Kevin Pewhairangi
Te Puna Rongoā: Achieving Medicines Access Equity for Māori - Pharmacists' role
Gisborne's Horouta Pharmacy has been awarded East Coast Rural Pharmacy Services contract with RXOne
Māori pharmacist encourages Māori to get vaccinated against Covid-19
Updated 03 December 2024
