Dr Malcolm Mulholland crowned KiwiBank Local Hero for advocacy campaign

Research Development Officer Dr Malcolm Mulholland, Ngāti Kahungunu, has been named a KiwiBank Local Hero for his invaluable work campaigning for better access to lifesaving drugs for cancer patients.

For almost two decades, Dr Mulholland has been a dedicated part of the Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University whānau. During his time at Massey, he has been a researcher within Te Pūtahi-a-Toi School of Māori Knowledge, with a particular interest in Māori rugby, the relationship between Māori and the State and symbols of nationhood.

Dr Mulholland says it is a real honour that someone thought he was worthy of being nominated as a local hero, let alone to be named as one.

“To receive this news is recognition of not only my own efforts, but of our loved ones who are no longer with us and who fought so hard for increased medicine access in Aotearoa New Zealand," he says.

In May 2018, Dr Mulholland’s wife Wiki was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. Just weeks later, during a meeting at Palmerston North Hospital, they learned her cancer had progressed too far for treatment.

“The next day was our youngest son Patrick’s 10th birthday. The timing felt like a cruel twist of fate, but it marked the start of a journey that would change our lives forever,” Dr Mulholland recalls.

Faced with a $6,000 monthly cost for Ibrance, a medication that could help treat Mrs Mulholland’s cancer but was not funded by New Zealand's health system, they made the difficult decision to go public. In August 2018, a Givealittle page was launched to raise funds for the medication and Dr Mulholland began advocating for greater access to life-saving treatments.

“Our efforts quickly grew into a national campaign, as Wiki’s story resonated with other patients facing similar barriers to treatment.

“In October 2018, a petition calling for the funding of Ibrance and another drug, Kadcyla, was delivered to Parliament, backed by hundreds of supporters. I also wrote a submission urging the Health and Māori Affairs Select Committees to review Pharmac's drug funding model.”

As the campaign gained momentum, Dr Mulholland co-founded Patient Voice Aotearoa (PVA) in 2019, a charitable trust dedicated to advocating for better access to medicines. Through PVA, several high-profile campaigns were launched, including ‘The Right to Live’, which presented petitions to Parliament for the funding of critical drugs for cancer, cystic fibrosis and diabetes patients.

While these efforts resulted in victories, such as the eventual funding of Ibrance and Kadcyla in early 2020, Mrs Mulholland’s health continued to deteriorate. She was given Ibrance, but it came too late. The drug extended her life by just three months, long enough for her to meet the couple’s first grandchild, Manaia. She passed away in November 2021, one day before her 44th birthday.

Despite this personal tragedy, Dr Mulholland remained committed to advocating for patients across New Zealand. In 2021, after years of campaigning, the Government announced its first-ever review of Pharmac, a historic moment for the nation’s health system. PVA also led efforts to push for reforms, including campaigns to double Pharmac’s budget and improve access to medications for all patients.

“In 2023, we worked to protect patient access to life-extending drugs, leading a campaign against the Government’s initial provisions in the Therapeutic Products Bill, which would have restricted access to essential medicines. After significant lobbying, the Government reversed key provisions.

“More recently, I found myself advocating for better health services in my hometown of Seddonville, after a newly-built hospital faced severe staff shortages. This led to a petition calling for urgent reforms, which was signed by over 3,000 people,” he explains.

Throughout this journey, Dr Mulholland faced his own health crisis when he was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. Delays in diagnosis and treatment forced him to seek private care. After undergoing surgery, he is now cancer free.

“Despite the personal losses, I continue to advocate for patients, with PVA’s campaigns reaching new heights.

“While significant progress has been made, with Pharmac’s budget increasing from $985 million to $1.8 billion since I began advocating, there is still much work to be done. The fight for better access to life-saving medicines continues, and I remain committed to ensuring no one else suffers from the systemic failures that shortened my wife’s life.”

In 2023, he launched the ‘Our Lives Matter’ roadshow, touring New Zealand to raise awareness of the medicine crisis. The campaign culminated in a political debate and calls for more accessible, affordable treatment options for patients. In the same year, PVA organised New Zealand’s first-ever national medicines summit, producing a white paper that has influenced ongoing reform discussions.

Dr Mulholland reflects that his journey has been marked by loss and hardship, but it has also shown him the power of advocacy and the strength of communities coming together to fight for change.

“This is not just about one family - it’s about all New Zealanders, and the right to access the medications that can save lives,” he says.