Our Values & Vision

At Canterbury District Health Board, our values and vision shape everything we do — from the way we care for our patients and community, to how we support and develop our staff. We are committed to building a health system that is truly centred on the people we serve.

Our Vision

Canterbury DHB's vision is: "The best health outcomes for people in our community."

We strive to be a health system where people are well, services are equitable, and everyone has the opportunity to live well and receive care close to home. Our One System, One Budget approach is nationally recognised as a model for integrated health care — bringing together hospital, community, and primary care services for the benefit of all Canterbury people.

We are proud of the progress we have made and continue to innovate and lead the way in health system thinking, both nationally and internationally.

Our Values

Our values guide how we work together and how we care for the people in our community. They are the foundation of our culture and reflect the kind of organisation we want to be.

He Tangata — People First

Everything we do is focused on improving the health and wellbeing of the people in our community. We treat everyone with respect and dignity, recognising each person's unique needs, values, and background.

Kia Tūhono — Connected

We believe in working together — across teams, across services, and across our community. Strong connections and collaboration lead to better outcomes for our patients and for our people.

Kia Auaha — Innovative

We are committed to finding better ways of doing things. Canterbury DHB is recognised as a leader in health system innovation, and we encourage our staff to think creatively and embrace new ideas that improve care and services.

Kia Tika — Integrity

We act with honesty and transparency in everything we do. We hold ourselves accountable and take responsibility for our actions, always seeking to do what is right for our patients, our colleagues, and our community.

Kia Hiranga — Excellence

We are committed to delivering the highest quality care and services. We invest in our people and continuously seek to improve our performance and outcomes for the communities we serve.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Canterbury DHB is committed to honouring its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We recognise Māori as tangata whenua and are dedicated to achieving equitable health outcomes for Māori. This commitment is embedded in our planning, our services, and our workforce development.

We work in partnership with Māori communities and organisations to ensure our services are responsive, accessible, and culturally appropriate.

Our Strategic Direction

Canterbury DHB's strategic direction is built around three key focus areas:

Keeping people well — focusing on prevention, early intervention, and supporting people to manage their own health.
Care closer to home — delivering more services in the community and primary care settings, reducing unnecessary hospital stays and admissions.
Best care for those who need it most — ensuring hospital and specialist services are available and excellent for those with complex or acute needs.

This integrated approach means that as a member of the Canterbury DHB team, you will be part of a system that is genuinely thinking differently about health and how to achieve better outcomes for everyone.

Join Our Team

Be part of an organisation that is leading the way in health care. If our values resonate with you and you are passionate about making a difference, we would love to hear from you.