Health coaching

Health coaches are available to the enrolled population of general practice(s) and community settings, as one member of the integrated primary mental health and addiction team. They work closely with the health improvement practitioner and other members of the general practice team to support the enrolled population to meet their health and wellbeing needs.

Health coaches come from a variety of backgrounds, and work with people experiencing issues that impact on their health and wellbeing. Health coaching aims to build people’s motivation and capability to better understand and self-manage their physical and emotional wellbeing needs. These can be related to long-term physical or mental health conditions or substance use and everyday emotional or physical wellbeing challenges. The health coach supports people and their whānau to access community and online resources and supports to enhance their social, emotional and physical wellbeing.

The role is derived from the health coach role originally developed in the US and is adapted for the Aotearoa context. Examples of adaptations are the teamwork with the HIP and wider integrated primary mental health and addiction team, provision of support for self-management of emotional wellbeing as well as long term conditions, and delivery that is culturally safe and appropriate for the people of Aotearoa. The following are core components of the role:

• supporting wellbeing
• accessibility and responsiveness
• seamless delivery
• training, skills, and knowledge.

Since January 2026, PREKURE (in partnership with Collaborative Aotearoa) and Tāmaki Health. are the two Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora providers of IPMHA health coach training.

Over the last five years, Te Pou has made health coaching training available as part of the IPMHA workforce development programme. During this time, Health Literacy and Tāmaki Health have delivered the training and have made a significant contribution to the development of the IPMHA health coaching workforce. Their commitment, expertise, and leadership have supported the growth and capability of health coaches across Aotearoa.

The evaluation report below highlights the impact and outcomes of their work.