Akaroa Health – An Integrated Model

Introduction
Rural health services across Aotearoa New Zealand grapple with geographic isolation, workforce shortages, limited-service scope, and fragmented care pathways. The result is often inequitable outcomes for rural populations, who are older, have more chronic conditions, and face longer wait times than their urban counterparts. To counter these challenges, integrated health centres are increasingly recognised as a transformative solution.

Akaroa Health, situated in a remote yet resilient community on Banks Peninsula, demonstrates how integration can work in practice. Bringing together general practice, urgent care, aged residential care, and community nursing under one roof, Akaroa Health represents a model of holistic, sustainable rural healthcare.

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