Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand

Making health data accessible for everyone in Aotearoa

Unlocking health data for everyone: In just eight weeks we built an app that could reshape how Kiwis access their information.

Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand

Making health data accessible for everyone in Aotearoa

Unlocking health data for everyone: In just eight weeks we built an app that could reshape how Kiwis access their information.

What we delivered

  • A secure, accessible mobile app ready for launch – in just 8 weeks

  • Mobile-first design that complemented the existing web experience

  • Privacy-focused features that put people in control of their health information

  • Strong partnerships with Health NZ's design team and integration partners

Partnering to bring health data to life

Having access to our personal health data helps us make informed decisions about our wellbeing and take better care of our whānau. Health NZ's vision of making health information accessible to everyone deeply resonated with us. While the My Health Record website was already breaking down barriers to access, we believed a mobile app could take this even further – helping people who've historically had less access to healthcare get the information they need, whenever they need it.


When Health NZ was selecting a partner to create their mobile app, they chose us because they saw how much we cared about their vision. Through a competitive RFP process, we demonstrated not just our technical expertise, but our commitment to making healthcare more accessible for everyone in Aotearoa.

“Being able to help people break that cycle of being stuck is really important. That’s one of the things that came through with PaperKite. They cared, and that makes a massive difference”

“Being able to help people break that cycle of being stuck is really important. That’s one of the things that came through with PaperKite. They cared, and that makes a massive difference”

“Being able to help people break that cycle of being stuck is really important. That’s one of the things that came through with PaperKite. They cared, and that makes a massive difference”

— Steve Gray, Product Owner, Te Whatu Ora

From vision to reality in eight weeks

The brief was clear: deliver a secure, user-friendly mobile app for My Health Record in just eight weeks. It was an ambitious timeline, but we knew that with the right partnerships and our product expertise, we could make it happen. And we did.


Delivering in such a short timeframe, and within a multi vendor environment, meant we needed strong partnerships from day one. We worked side-by-side with Health NZ's design team and proactively brought mobile expertise to their discussions. Our collaborative approach extended beyond Health NZ, as we worked closely with integration partners to ensure the app could securely access the health data it needed.


By bringing everyone together, we moved quickly while maintaining the high standards essential for handling sensitive information. The result? A fully-featured app that was ready to go live, delivered ahead of schedule.

Mobile-first design that makes sense

When designing a mobile version of a web product, it's tempting to simply shrink everything down. But we know from experience that great mobile apps need their own identity. "It's a sibling, not a twin" became our guiding principle.


We brought our mobile expertise to Health NZ's design team from day one, helping shape the vision for what this app could be. Instead of just replicating the website's functionality, we identified opportunities where a mobile app could add unique value. Our product thinking complemented Health NZ's deep understanding of users' needs, letting us craft features that would work brilliantly on phones and make health information even more accessible.

“It was good for me to have another product person with as much talent and experience as they have to validate my thinking, really useful for me.”

“It was good for me to have another product person with as much talent and experience as they have to validate my thinking, really useful for me.”

“It was good for me to have another product person with as much talent and experience as they have to validate my thinking, really useful for me.”

— Steve Gray, Product Owner, Te Whatu Ora

Handling health information with care

Health information is deeply personal. We knew we weren't just building another app – we were creating something that would hold some of people's most sensitive data.


We designed for the reality that not everyone has their own mobile phone, creating an experience that works on shared devices while keeping personal information private. The app makes it easy to see at a glance which information belongs to which family member, giving people complete control over what others can see.

Beyond code: Building a case for change

Although the app has not been publicly launched yet, the work completed demonstrates a robust foundation for future use, what we delivered goes far beyond working code.


The version we created isn't just a prototype; it's proof that mobile health information can work at scale. We equipped Health NZ with strategic assets that demonstrate the real-world value and potential of the app, helping them build a compelling case for future investment. Our work shows how mobile technology can make healthcare more accessible and equitable for everyone.

"This is a huge opportunity to help improve people’s lives and make a meaningful impact for Aotearoa. Seeing people on the front foot with their health and caring for their whānau, while getting easier access to their health services is something that would make me immensely proud"

"This is a huge opportunity to help improve people’s lives and make a meaningful impact for Aotearoa. Seeing people on the front foot with their health and caring for their whānau, while getting easier access to their health services is something that would make me immensely proud"

"This is a huge opportunity to help improve people’s lives and make a meaningful impact for Aotearoa. Seeing people on the front foot with their health and caring for their whānau, while getting easier access to their health services is something that would make me immensely proud"

— PaperKite team member

“I’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of technology when it’s purposefully used to solve genuine problems - at the society and the individual levels. I think the My Health Record app has the potential to be another transformative application of technology by removing barriers to people accessing and understanding their own health information, and enabling whānau to support them no matter where they live.”

“I’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of technology when it’s purposefully used to solve genuine problems - at the society and the individual levels. I think the My Health Record app has the potential to be another transformative application of technology by removing barriers to people accessing and understanding their own health information, and enabling whānau to support them no matter where they live.”

“I’ve seen first-hand the transformative power of technology when it’s purposefully used to solve genuine problems - at the society and the individual levels. I think the My Health Record app has the potential to be another transformative application of technology by removing barriers to people accessing and understanding their own health information, and enabling whānau to support them no matter where they live.”

— PaperKite team member

In just 8 weeks, we proved what's possible when technical expertise meets genuine care for improving people's lives.

That's the kind of impact we love to make

That's the kind of impact we love to make

That's the kind of impact we love to make

Got a big vision that needs the right technical partner? Let's talk about making it happen!

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Location

PaperKite
Level 1/40 Taranaki Street
Te Aro, Wellington 6011

© PaperKite 2025

Let's
collaborate!

Location

PaperKite
Level 1/40 Taranaki Street
Te Aro, Wellington 6011

© PaperKite 2025

Let's
collaborate!

Location

PaperKite
Level 1/40 Taranaki Street
Te Aro, Wellington 6011

© PaperKite 2025