Te Rau Ora is excited to welcome Jade Chase as our new Director, Innovations.
Te Rau Ora is excited to welcome Jade Chase as our new Director, Innovations.
21 September 2026 | Te Rau Ora, Kirikiriroa Office
Te Rau Ora is excited to welcome Jade Chase as our new Director, Innovations.
A proud uri of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Whitikaupeka, Jade Chase is a recognised Māori health leader, innovator and changemaker whose career has been dedicated to creating opportunities for whānau Māori to thrive.
With more than 20 years of experience leading transformational change across communities, organisations and systems, she brings a unique combination of strategic vision, practical action and deep commitment to kaupapa Māori.
Te Rau Ora Tumu Whakarae Riki Nia Nia says:
“Jade is highly regarded by our Te Rau Ora whānau and across the health sector in Aotearoa. The depth of experience, leadership and insight she brings will be a significant asset to our organisation.”
Leadership grounded in people
At heart, Jade is a people person. She thrives on working alongside others, bringing people together around a shared purpose and creating the conditions for teams to do their best work.
She has long believed that leadership is not about having all the answers, but about unlocking the strengths, ideas and potential that already exist within individuals, teams and communities. Known for her ability to connect people, build trust and inspire action, Jade leads by empowering others rather than micromanaging, creating environments where people feel valued, supported and able to succeed.
Turning kaupapa into action
Beginning her career as a youth health midwife, Jade has built a reputation for challenging the status quo, nurturing new ideas and turning bold aspirations into practical action that improves outcomes for whānau Māori.
Throughout her career, she has designed and led kaupapa that have shaped both communities and systems, including Hapū Wānanga, Whare Ora (Healthy Homes), the first national rangatahi strategy for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and large-scale engagement and transformation initiatives focused on improving outcomes for whānau Māori.
Advancing equity across the health system
During her six years as Chief Advisor Pae Ora at Manatū Hauora, Jade led regional wānanga to ensure Māori aspirations were reflected in the implementation of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, including Pae Tū: Hauora Māori Strategy and other key health strategies.
She also led a range of system-wide initiatives to advance equity, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and anti-racism across the health system, including Houhia: Equity by Design, Ao Mai Te Rā: Anti-Racism Kaupapa (Phase 2), workforce noho marae, Communities of Practice, and the design of the COVID-19 Care in the Community approach, which enabled Māori-led hubs across Aotearoa.
More recently, Jade led a Cabinet-directed programme on behalf of the Executive Leadership Team to strengthen the alignment between health investment decisions and the needs and aspirations of communities. The approach is now attracting interest across the wider health sector as a model for more equitable and responsive decision-making.
“Her extensive policy expertise and understanding of the machinery of government will strengthen our ability to influence the strategic policy settings that enable whānau ora and support whānau to achieve their full potential,” Riki says.
Grounded in whānau and kaupapa
A natural connector and champion of possibility, Jade is known for seeing opportunities where others see barriers. She brings a rare ability to move between strategy and implementation, helping turn ambitious ideas into practical action and lasting change. Her work is grounded in kaupapa Māori and a deep commitment to creating systems that better serve whānau, communities and future generations.
A mother of two and grandmother of three, whānau, whakapapa and future generations sit at the centre of what drives her and the way she approaches her mahi.
Although she now lives in Pōneke, Jade spent most of her life in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, where many of the relationships and experiences that shaped her leadership journey were formed.
As Director, Innovation, she is excited to work alongside whānau, communities, partners and the Te Rau Ora team to build on the strong foundations already in place, support new ideas, grow Indigenous innovation, and create opportunities for Māori solutions to thrive.
“Innovation is about having the courage to imagine something better and then creating the conditions to make it possible. I believe our whānau, communities and workforce already hold many of the answers. Our job is to back them, nurture their ideas and help turn them into lasting change for Māori.”
Jade Chase
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