" Kua hinga te Totara i te wao nui a Tane
The Totora has fallen in the forest of Tane"
Paul passed away on 24th June 2020. Paul was a personal friend and colleague for many years.
I am thousands of miles away when I got the text today. The last time I felt such a loss and grief was when I was informed of my father's passing.
I am writing this note to celebrate Paul’s life, acknowledge his achievements and contributions to the New Zealand health system over many decades.
Over the many years, my friendship with Paul grew beyond our mutual interest in making a difference in the New Zealand health system. It remains our great privilege for my wife and me to get to know Paul and Sheryn as friends of our family.
Paul had such an energetic and passionate drive to make a positive difference in the lives of New Zealanders. My last face to face meeting with Paul, was in Wellington last August. He was in Wellington as an advisory member of one of the Ministry of Health's programs. He was so full of energy and spoke with such a strong conviction on the ideas he had for the program. He was the same Paul I met way back in 2003 when he chaired the Ministerial Advisory Group to set up the Health Information Standards Organisation.
Paul's many contributions to New Zealand's health system included board member and deputy chair of Counties Manukau DHB, chair of Medication Safety Programme Steering Committee, and board member of the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society. Outside of health, he was the chair of South East Life Education Trust, board member of GS1 and a life long supporter of the Ronald McDonald House in Auckland Hospital. In more recent times, he was an avid member of the local Men’s Sheds.
In between our many conversations about health, would be our conversation about his love for his family. He adored you, Sheryn, his love for all his children and in-laws was palpable, and when it comes to the grandkids, his eyes always lit up.
Thank you, Sheryn, for sharing Paul with us. I will miss him greatly. New Zealand has lost one of her great health champions and reformer.
I will miss your wise counsel and company. Rest in peace, and time to rest now, Paul.
To my many colleagues who knew Paul, I would encourage you to pen a few words to celebrate Paul’s life and contribution. He will be missed but never forgotten.
Chai Chuah
26th June 2020
Penang, Malaysia.