Tepania-Palmer's service and leadership throughout her distiguinshed career had a profound impact on the communities she served. She sat on the Board for organisations including Fire Emergency New Zealand, Waikato Lotteries Community Grants, Ngāti Hine Health Trust and was also the Chair for Kotui Hauora.
An advocate for Māori health, Tepania-Palmer held several senior governance roles, having offered her expertise to the Waitemata District Health Board from 2007 to 2016, the National Health Committee and also the Auckland District Health Board since 2010. Her passion and heart for change was instrumental in seeing the development of a number of Māori health initiatives.
Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) CEO, Debbie Sorensen, says Tepania-Palmer was supportive of positive health outcomes for Pacific communities.
"She was a lifelong friend of the Pacific as a strong supporter of Pacific self-determination from her time at the Northern Regional Health Authority. She was a strong advocate for Pacific equity and instrumental in shaping our thinking at this early part of the Pacific Health Sector Development and was a champion of Pacific nurses. I will miss her deeply."
PMA Group Board Director, Sir Collin Tukuitonga KNZM, expresses that Tepania-Palmer was a passionate leader in the field of Māori health.
"As a champion for Māori health, she was passionate about equitable outcomes for Māori communities and never backed down from challenging the status quo.
"Her aspirations for culturally competent and appropriate health systems for Māori was admirable. I'm grateful to have called her a friend and will cherish the memories we shared."
Etu Pasifika Canterbury Board Director, Dr Api Talemaitoga ONZM, reiterates that her advocacy was inspiring.
"Gwen exemplified what it meant to be a servant leader. Her advocacy for Māori communities was an inspiration to many and she was committed to ensuring that Māori voices were represented.
"She will be missed and her legacy will continue to have a lasting impact on Māori health."
We are grateful for her generosity in supporting the development of the Pacific health sector and send our deepest condolences to her whānau, iwi, friends and colleagues.