Revision of Rural Health New Zealand Snapshot 2024 – Calling for Input.

The first publication of the Revision of Rural Health New Zealand Snapshot in 2024 was carried out in a relatively short time period with major assistance from Otago and Auckland Universities. It represented the collation of various sources of key rural health research, along with the then recent establishment of the GCH which gave geo-spatial data upon which to filter health data. The resultant “Snapshot” has been widely utilised and valued by various groups, including Hauora Taiwhenua, advocating on behalf of rural communities for better resourcing of rural health initiatives in order to close health gaps between rural and urban populations.

We are planning to update this important document in time to release a new 2026 version at the Rural WONCA Conference in Wellington in April.

Working with researchers from universities, and our Research and Education Chapter, we will be pulling together all applicable data, along with a new version of the GCH based on 2023 Census Data.

We welcome hearing from any of our members on applicable research / data that may be useful in painting an accurate picture of rural health in New Zealand.  Please feel free to get in touch with us to point us towards important references that would help achieve the next iteration of the Snapshot.

All enquiries to: communications@htrhn.org.nz