Theresa Gattung in serious health scare

Theresa Gattung, New Zealand business person and the former chief executive of Telecom New Zealand. Photo / Greg Bowker

One of the country's most prominent businesswomen is in hospital after a serious health scare.

Former Telecom chief executive and founder of several businesses Theresa Gattung is undergoing tests after being admitted on Wednesday.

Friend and business partner Cecilia Robinson, who co-founded My Food Bag with Gattung, said it had been a rough few days, but she was doing well.

"I can confirm that Theresa Gattung is currently in hospital after experiencing a health episode on Wednesday," Robinson said.

"[She] is receiving the best possible care at Auckland City Hospital where they are still conducting tests." Theresa is up and about and being supported by friends and family."

Robinson would not comment on the nature of the health scare.

It's Gattung's second scare.

In 2006, she was hit by a car while crossing Wellington's Oriental Parade after swimming at a nearby pool.

She was taken to hospital with leg injures.

Since leaving Telecom, now Spark, in 2007, Gattung has taken on a number of business opportunities. She is currently the Chair of insurance group AIA in Australia, Telco Technology Services in New Zealand, Wellington SPCA, Co.Of Women, and luxury beauty product distributor The Six Senses.

She is also a director for My Food Bag, the Royal NZ SPCA and online marketplace MyCare.

She is the co-founder of charitable organisation World Women which launched SheEO New Zealand, aimed at helping to fund female founded or run start-ups.

Gattung, who is in her mid-fifties, had been "juggling a million different balls," said Robinson.

As part of her work with Co.Of Women, Gattung was set to join a panel of investors next week for a pitching session at Women Entrepreneurs Week.

Speaking from the hospital, Robinson said the advice was for Gattung to take it easy, but she would be playing it by ear.

"She may need to slow down a bit, but she is doing a lot better and she's in great hands," Robinson said.

Slowing down may be a struggle for the businesswomen who has previously admitted she finds it hard to take it easy, although she swims regularly and rides horses for fun.

Last month Gattung put her $2.8 million Oriental Parade home up for sale after owning the waterfront apartment for 14 years. At the time, she said her life was now based in Auckland and with her various roles she had travelled significantly the previous year, and planned to do the same this year.

Her work with AIA meant a lot of time was spent in Melbourne.

Gattung grew up with three sisters, and now lives in Westmere. She completed a Bachelor of Management Studies at Waikato University in 1983 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1987 at Victoria University. Over the years she has been held up as a leader in promoting women in business, and is a strong advocate for pay equity and equality.