Key Takeaways
- Parata worked as the sole permanent salaried caseloading midwife at Te Puia Springs Hospital from December 2013 to December 2023, earning a $104,000 salary while operating in a remote, high‑stress environment.
- Between July 6 2023 and December 6 2023 she submitted fraudulent claims to Te Whatu Ora under the Primary Maternity Services Notice, receiving $52,687.24 despite not providing the services as a self‑employed LMC.
- Parata admitted the misconduct began in 2022 and estimated the total amount taken at $100,000, citing extreme workload, isolation, lack of relief, PTSD, anxiety, and personal financial support for hapū māmā and whānau as contributing factors.
- The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal imposed a 12‑month suspension from practice, 24‑month disclosure requirements, mandatory monthly supervision, biannual self‑reflection reports, and a 12‑month requirement that all future claims be countersigned by another registered midwife.
- Tribunal deputy chair Susan Hughes KC dismissed Parata’s justification as a “fantasy,” emphasizing that diverting funds intended for the NPO was unequivocally wrong.
Background and Employment Context
Parata was employed by the NPO (a non‑profit organisation) as the sole permanent salaried caseloading midwife at Te Puia Springs Hospital in Gisborne, a role she held from December 2013 through December 2023. Her salary was set at $104,000 per annum, and until April 2023 she remained the only midwife on a permanent salaried basis at the facility. The hospital’s maternity service operated in a rural, isolated setting, which meant Parata frequently worked alone, without immediate collegial support or backup.
Workload, Isolation, and Personal Sacrifices
The tribunal heard that maintaining a safe maternity service became increasingly difficult for Parata due to the demanding nature of her role. She worked remotely, often in isolation from other NPO services, faced a high caseload, and endured lengthy on‑call periods. Parata reported paying out‑of‑pocket for women’s medication and food, and even covering families’ petrol costs to enable them to attend appointments in Gisborne. During Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, she walked an hour to deliver a care package to a 23‑week pregnant woman in the Mangahauini Valley who had run out of food, illustrating the extent of her personal commitment.
Shift Toward Self‑Employment Perception
Over time, Parata began to view her working arrangement as more akin to that of a self‑employed case‑loading midwife rather than a salaried employee. This perception led her to practice and claim remuneration under the Primary Maternity Services Notice—a funding mechanism she was not entitled to access as an NPO‑employed midwife. The notice is designed to reimburse self‑employed lead maternity carers (LMCs) for services rendered, not to supplement salaried staff income.
Discovery of the Fraud and Admission
The NPO launched an internal audit after noticing discrepancies in its financial records, including a substantial underclaiming of expected reimbursements. The audit revealed that claims had been submitted in Parata’s name to Te Whatu Ora, the agency that funds maternity services. Parata subsequently confessed to the Midwifery Council what she had been doing, triggering an investigation by the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC).
Details of the Fraudulent Claims
For the period spanning July 6 2023 to December 6 2023, the PCC found that claims made under Parata’s name and paid to her as a “Provider” totalled $52,687.24. A spreadsheet supplied by Te Whatu Ora to the PCC listed 192 individual entries contributing to this sum. Crucially, Parata had not delivered those services in her capacity as a self‑employed caseloading LMC; the claims were therefore fraudulent. Parata admitted that the misconduct had actually commenced in 2022 and that the total amount she had appropriated was approximately $100,000.
Mitigating Circumstances Presented by Parata
In her testimony, Parata described working excessive hours without any system to relieve her after shifts longer than 12 hours, lacking access to sick leave, and being unable to attend tangihanga (Māori funerals). She reported exposure to violence, unsafe buildings, and unsuitable vehicles while performing her duties. Parata also disclosed suffering from post‑traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), daily extreme anxiety, chronic headaches, and chronic fatigue. She emphasized that she had often supported hapū māmā and whānau from her own pocket and offered to repay the money she had taken.
Tribunal Findings and Sanctions
The Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, led by deputy chair Susan Hughes KC, rejected Parata’s justification that she was attempting to salvage a maternity service threatened by adverse weather events. Hughes KC stated there was “no argument” that diverting funds intended for the NPO to her personal account was acceptable, labelling the notion a “fantasy.” Consequently, the tribunal imposed a 12‑month suspension from midwifery practice. Additional conditions for any future return to practice included: a 24‑month obligation to disclose the tribunal’s decision and its conditions to any employer or practice partner; mandatory monthly supervision with a Midwifery Council‑approved supervisor for the first year; submission of a self‑reflection report to the Midwifery Council every six months; and a requirement that all claims submitted to Te Whatu Ora be countersigned by another registered midwife for a period of 12 months.
Reporting Context and Broader Implications
The article was reported by Brianna McIlraith, a Queenstown‑based journalist for Open Justice who specialises in court and financial journalism in the lower South Island. Her coverage highlights the intersection of professional accountability, mental health stressors in rural health work, and the mechanisms through which funding fraud can be detected and addressed. The case underscores the importance of robust financial oversight, clear employment classifications, and support systems for clinicians working in isolated, high‑pressure environments to prevent similar misconduct in the future.