After 20 years of dedicated service, the Board of the Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand announces the retirement of our esteemed Executive Director, Sione Tu’itahi, effective 31 March 2026.

We extend our deep appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to Sione for his unwavering leadership and commitment and extraordinary contributions to health promotion in Aotearoa and globally.

A Legacy of Impact

Through his leadership, Sione has strengthened the Health Promotion Forum and championed health equity across diverse communities. His vision and advocacy have strengthened partnerships, influenced policy, and elevated Indigenous knowledge and planetary health in health promotion.

Internationally, Sione made history as the first Indigenous President of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) and now serves as Immediate Past President. He championed planetary health frameworks at a global scale, most notably co-chairing the IUHPE 23rd World Conference on Health Promotion in Rotorua (2019), where the ‘Waiora Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing’ group emerged from, by placing Indigenous knowledge at the centre of global conversations on health and the environment.  He more recently co-chaired the 2025 IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion in Abu Dhabi.

As founder and Co-Chair of the IUHPE Global Working Group on Waiora Planetary Health and Human Wellbeing, and a member of the Planetary Health Alliance Steering Committee, he has been a leading voice for ecological sustainability and wellbeing. A prolific educator and author Sione has contributed chapters to health promotion literature, written books and children’s stories, and delivered influential keynotes worldwide.

Continuing Global Influence

Although retiring from his role as Executive Director of HPF, Sione will continue to shape global health through his work as a member of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Health Promotion and Well-being and the WHO Strategic & Technical Advisory Group for Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, ensuring Indigenous knowledge, planetary health and health promotion remain central to global health policies and  strategies.

His leadership, guided by wisdom, justice, courage, and humility, remains an enduring source of inspiration.  As he enters this next chapter, Sione looks forward to cherishing more time with his wife Tupou and their beloved children and grandchildren, who have long deserved the gift of his presence.

To ensure a seamless transition, HPF is delighted to appoint Deputy Executive Director, Leanne Eruera as Interim Executive Director from 1 April 2026. Leanne brings extensive experience in health promotion, strong leadership skills, and a deep commitment to equity and Indigenous knowledge, ensuring HPF continues its vital work during this transition.

Sione will provide ongoing guidance through a transition period, supporting HPF as we navigate the wider challenges facing our sector.