Thursday 10 December 2020, 02:28 PM 4 minutes to Read Each year the PHA honours individuals or groups for their outstanding contribution to public health action by naming them Public Health Champion for the year. Professor Michael Baker In the early days of the pandemic, Michael was a key voice advocating for a national lockdown and arguing for NZ to take an elimination approach rather than following the influenza pandemic playbook. Throughout the year he has tirelessly advised, advocated and appeared in the media, helping New Zealanders to understand the epidemiology of COVID-19 and the implications for action. Michael has become a household name this year, but his huge contribution to Public Health began decades earlier.