21st WONCA World Rural Health Conference, 10-13 April 2026: Read More – WONCA 2026 | Home
Dr Fiona Bolden MB ChB 1990 Bristol; MRCGP 1995; FRNZCGP 2005 (Dist)
Dr Fiona Bolden is a passionate advocate for rural health, combining decades of experience as both a frontline rural clinician and a healthcare leader. As the inaugural Chair of Hauora Taiwhenua/Rural Health Network, she has led the network’s growth from a fledgling advocacy organisation into a unified and influential voice for rural health. Before Hauora Taiwhenua was launched in 2022, Fiona served for three years as Chair of one of the key founding member organisations, the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network (NZRGPN). She had been on NZRGPN’s board since 2010.
In her ongoing clinical work as a rural GP, Fiona remains deeply connected to the rural communities she works with and is driven by the relationships she has forged over the years. She provides out-of-hours care, participates in PRIME (Primary Medical Emergency Response) and has played an instrumental role in many community wellbeing initiatives, including suicide prevention and women’s health.
Fiona’s vision for sustainable rural health reaches beyond her region and New Zealand with an aspiration for interconnected and supportive networks of healthcare professionals across borders. Recently, Fiona led Hauora Taiwhenua’s successful bid to host the Rural WONCA (World Organisation of Family Doctors) conference in New Zealand in 2026. She is looking forward to the opportunity to work with rural health professionals from across the network to showcase Indigenous healthcare approaches on an international platform.
While her advocacy extends to the global stage, Fiona remains deeply committed to rural primary care, with a strong focus on mental health support. Originally from the UK, studying medicine at the University of Bristol, she did her general practice training rurally. She moved to NZ in 2002 with her young family, settling initially in Kawhia and then working in Whaingaroa/Raglan where she jointly owned a practice until December 2018. She worked for Midlands Primary Healthcare Organisation (PHO) as a clinical lead in mental health and addictions for four years and now has a role on the national clinical network for mental health and addiction. From 2018 to 2025, she worked at Whangamatā in the Coromandel and is currently practising rural and remote medicine as a locum GP.
Fiona represents the rural health network with her regular contributions to NZDoctor. Her heartfelt passion for an equitable health service for rural communities can be seen in the media interviews and the advocacy work that she does throughout all levels of the system but is felt most strongly in the people, whanau and communities that she has dedicated her career to serving.
Margareth (Ngāpuhi and Dutch whakapapa) is the Ahorangi / Chief Executive of Hauora Hokianga – a hauora Māori provider in the west coast far North. Born in the Hokianga she fulfilled a lifelong dream in 2021 to return home to serve the people of Hokianga.
With a nursing career spanning nearly 40 years, Margareth has held various leadership, management and governance roles within clinical practice, academic and policy environments.
Margareth’s roles prior to returning home included being the Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Northland DHB and representing nursing at a national level as the Chief Nurse with the Ministry of Health.
With rural health close to her heart and home, the reality of rurality is a mantra she promotes to ensure there is a continued focus on addressing inequities and improving health outcomes for rural communities.
She is honoured to be the Chair of Te Rōpū Ārahi and board member of Hauora Taiwhenua where she believes her years of experience as a Registered Nurse, leadership and management roles, and passion for Māori and rural health will be well utilised.
Mark is the Chief Executive of Mobile Health and with his team is responsible for providing elective day surgery via the Mobile Surgical Unit – Te Waka Hauora, running My Health Hub providing continuing professional development for health practitioners and operating the NZ Telehealth Resource Centre.
With a strong focus on providing health services to rural communities through his work, Mark is a strong advocate improving equity of access to healthcare for rural New Zealanders.
Mark brings to Rural Communities decades of expertise and understanding of how to achieve effective collaboration with entities such as Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health, Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ, and Primary Care Organisations.
Bill is currently the Chief Executive of Waitaha PHO. Prior to this role, he was a Client Manager with South Link Health where he was responsible for rolling out Primary Health Organisations in the upper South Island.
Having developed strong community linkages with a number of organisations including Territorial Local Authorities, Bill brings experience in forging partnerships which support the continuation of rural and remote rural primary care services through the developments of community networks.
Bill brings a strong business acumen and depth of experience to rural communities through strong stakeholder relationships with Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury Alliance, Ministry of Health, New Zealand Rural General Practice Network, National Rural Health Advisory Group, St John Ambulance, Whanau Groups and most recently Hauora Taiwhenua.
Ko Taranaki me Te Atiawa ngā iwi Ko Ngati Haupoto me Te Mate Hou ngā hapū Ko Te Aro rāua ko Waiwhetu ngā marae Ko Sam rāua ko June oku mātua Ko Peter Jackson taku ingoa
I am a cultural consultant and an independent director on several boards. I provide cultural support to several health sector organisations. A commerce degree and a background in IT, small business ownership, property investment and financial literacy facilitation, has equipped me with a solid understanding of governance, management, and the mechanics of organisational success.
Mikaela is a newly graduated Registered Nurse with a strong passion for advancing rural health equity. She brings a forward-thinking perspective to Hauora Taiwhenua, focused on shaping the future of healthcare in Aotearoa.
With a background in Anatomy and Public Health from her undergraduate studies, followed by a Master’s in Nursing Science at the University of Otago, Mikaela has developed a deep understanding of the need for a more inclusive and comprehensive health system. This foundation has inspired her commitment to advocating for systemic change and ensuring emerging clinicians have a voice in national conversations.
Now beginning her career in emergency care and working alongside Mobile Health, Mikaela is dedicated to gaining broad, meaningful experience across Aotearoa’s diverse communities. She is highly motivated to collaborate with senior colleagues to bridge healthcare disparities and contribute to sustainable, long-term solutions for rural populations while working closely with the Students of Rural Health Association. Her commitment to representing the perspectives of new healthcare professionals reflects her dedication to a more equitable and resilient health system.
Ko Taranaki toku maunga
Ko Hangatahua toku awa
Ko Kurahaupō toku waka
Ko Ngā Māhanga ko Ngāti Tairi toku iwi
Ko Poniho toku pa
No Rangiauria o Wharekauri ahau
Kei Timaru toku kainga inaianei
Ko Gregory-Hunt toku whanau
Ko Tania Kemp toku ingoa
I was born and grew up on Pitt Island, in the Chatham Islands. I have a strong affiliation with Ngati Mutunga o Wharekauri as Wharekauri remains turangawaiwai to me and my whanau remain there.
I am a Nurse Practitioner (Mātanga Tapuhi) and own the Pleasant Point Health Center. This was the first Nurse Practitioner owned and led General Practice in New Zealand. This is a Nurse Practitioner run Practice, with a commitment to growing our own. We have a constant flow of student nurses from undergrad to NP interns.
I have spent 30 years in General Practice, mostly in rural and remote communities, including Pitt Island, Wharekauri, South Island West Coast and for the past 12 years in South Canterbury.
I am the Deputy Chair of Te Aitarakihi Society Inc. A local Marae-a-iwi for Mata waka and all cultures within South Canterbury. Through this organisation I chair a Health and Well-being Committee, with the view of increasing health care for Māori in the region.
I was on the RGPN board for 6 years until 2018. I also served on the Nursing Council New Zealand, for two terms, finishing in Feb this year. I was asked to rejoin Te Rōpū Ārahi in the transitional phase of RGPN to Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health. I am a council member also.
My drive is to influence policy and systems that enable genuine change and improvements to health outcomes for Māori, whanau, hapu and iwi in rural hapori whānui.
The Hauora Taiwhenua Board work alongside Te Rōpū Ārahi to enhance the achievement of our vision of equitable quality healthcare for rural communities. Our partnership with Te Rōpū Ārahi is an essential part of our commitment to enacting Te Tiriti principles of partnership, protection, and participation.
To further embed our partnership, a Kawenata (partnership agreement) was developed between Te Rōpū Ārahi and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network.
Francis Bradley, a past member of Te Rōpū Ārahi, talks about the Kawenata and what it means for both parties in the video linked below. You can also read his story below.
Kia ora mai tātou,
He mihi maioha ki ōku kaumātua i tēnei tono ki te whakahora atu I te ia o te whakaaetanga nei, ko te Kawenata.
I will briefly outline what the Kawenata is and what it represents.
The Kawenata is a binding agreement, acknowledging and honouring the shared mission and relationship between us as two rōpū.
It establishes that this is a partnership between Te Rōpū Ārahi and the NZ Rural General Practice Network (which is now, Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network), with the purpose, “to enhance the achievement of the Network’s objectives for equitable quality healthcare, for rural communities.”
Hauora Taiwhenua states a commitment to improving health disparities for rural Māori.
Te Rōpū Ārahi is the Treaty partner, recognised as Rangatira in the partnership, engaged with Te Tiriti based governance development to contribute to the elimination of health disparities for rural Māori.
The Kawenata outlines a number of responsibilities of both rōpū, all these founded on the shared commitment to build and support a relationship that is consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles. Two of the responsibilities are:
Finally, there are shared objectives, one being:
The Kawenata acknowledges that should the rural GP Network transform into Hauora Taiwhenua (which it has), that they will become party to this Kawenata following the endorsement by Te Rōpū Ārahi.
Health Equity for Māori is the reason for this relationship.
This kawenata is the foundation from which our relationship can start, and partnership can build and develop.
At this current point, Aotearoa is slowly learning what true Te Tiriti based partnership might mean, however, our healthcare system is a long way away from being bicultural, honouring an equal Māori voice at all levels in development, design, and execution. Hauora Taiwhenua as a healthcare organisation is no exception and our partnership model needs a lot of work to be able to give effect to Māori voices in all these levels, however, we as Te Rōpū Ārahi see our Kawenata in the context of the health reforms as fertile ground to grow and learn together what partnership means alongside Hauora Taiwhenua, and as long as we see a commitment embodied through action, we will back Hauora Taiwhenua as a fledgling in the new terrain of Te Tiriti based governance.
Mauri ora
Gill champions workforce development and through workforce, making a difference to the lives of whānau, families and communities in Aotearoa.
In her day job, Gill manages System Capability for National Emergency Management Agency, professionalising and building the emergency management workforce in Aotearoa.
Gill is a strong advocate for enhancing rural wellbeing and believes in whanaungatanga, building relationships and working collaboratively. Her approach is to build on strengths and share solutions. She brings extensive experience in fostering collaboration and partnerships between communities and elected stakeholders.
Dr Robin Baird is a rural GP working in Te Kauwhata, North Waikato. Born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Dr Baird trained in Edinburgh and Scottish Borders. He has been in New Zealand now for 10 years. He enjoys the professional range afforded by rural practice (clinics in aged-care centre, college, corrections facility) and the opportunity to collaborate with other providers to deliver quality health service. He works with Pinnacle PHO in a GP leader role and volunteers on Board of local Community House. His interests include clinical governance, lifestyle medicine, food, tramping, travel and bridge. He appreciates the sense of welcome he has had arriving in Aotearoa and is excited at the opportunity to lend some support to rural general practice.
I am originally from the UK. Born in London but then moved to Lincolnshire which is one of the largest counties in England and very rural. I previously worked in the NHS for 10 years as Head of Screening Services in Lincolnshire. We focused on taking the screening services to the community via mobile clinics, to decrease barriers which was successful, my particular interest was diabetic retinopathy, where I arbitrated clinical outcomes and oversaw the screening service of 50,000 patients.
This brought a greater understanding of rural needs and the possible barriers to various services (primary and secondary), which in turn led to working with public health, commissioners, and communities to improved access and outcomes for those patients. My particular interest is still diabetic retinopathy and if we can improve this service in NZ then that would be amazing.
However, I am now a Practice Relationship Manager for Pegasus Charitable Health in Christchurch, and I support general practice (urban and rural) in a variety of ways, but with a strong focus on rural health.
I am married to Michelle who was a Midwife but now works for Blind Low Vision. We have two children, one in NZ and one still in the UK. I have lived in New Zealand since 2017, Rotorua is where we first settled, we then moved to Christchurch in 2021 after a holiday on the South Island where I intend to stay and continue to enjoy the stunning natural beauty.
I also have a French Bulldog which is my favourite child.
Kia Ora, ko Ngāti Maniapoto te iwi. Ko Kawhia te moana, Kawhia te tangata, Kawhia te kai. I hail from the mighty Waikato – Kawhia, the landing place of our tūpuna on the Tainui waka. I grew up in a large whānau and midwifery was a natural calling for me. I became a midwife in 2016, originally working in Ōtautahi before moving to the Far North in 2019. Here I worked as a remote rural LMC, Midwifery Lecturer, Midwifery Manager at Kaitaia Hospital, and am currently in the role of Regional Clinical Lead – Midwifery for Hauora Māori Services, Te Tai Tokerau me Tāmaki Makaurau. I work across different governance groups and specific to rural is my membership on the Rural Health National Clinical Network.
My heart is tied to rural midwifery and serving whānau Māori— Whānau hold their own power and it is my job to walk alongside and empower whānau through their hapūtanga and the health system while upholding what is important for them. Living and working in the Far North, I am blessed by immense cultural wealth and strength within our communities. Being a midwife is an honour beyond measure and a responsibility I hold close to my heart.
My name is Gemma Hutton, I am a Nurse Practitioner in Twizel and continue to provide Telehealth/Locum support for the West Coast which was the area where I started my rural journey.
The majority of my career has been in rural health. I was a former board member of RGPN and I remain involved in advocating for rural health within my local area.
Shawna works primarily as a solo NP on Rakiura/Stewart Island and hones her emergency skills in the ED at Southland Hospital. She is passionate about improving rural and remote healthcare and finds tremendous fulfillment in the connections that rurality affords.
With over 30 years in healthcare and a clinical background in physiotherapy, including more than 20 years in rural practice, I am passionate about delivering equitable health services to rural communities. Currently, my focus is on allied health workforce redesign to mitigate clinical risk, while maintaining a small clinical workload to stay grounded in the realities of patient care. My goal is to help create a health system that truly works for the people it serves, and advocate for recognition of the specialised nature of the allied health professional skills needed to deliver care in rural settings.
I have been an active member and volunteer of Hauora Taiwhenua since I found out about the organisation.
Below is some of the work that I have done with Hauora Taiwhenua prior to my current role: • Rural school visits participant to the Hauraki and Coromandel (2023) • Pukekohe school careers volunteer (2023) • Rural school visits leader to Whangārei and Upper Northland (2024) • Fieldays volunteer (2024) • Optometry careers for rural students webinar co-host (2024)
Needless to say I’m hooked!
My goals as North Island RSV rep for 2025 are: • Promote the rural school visits initiative to more tertiary institutions that offer clinical programmes • Ensure that all RSV volunteers are confident and excited prior to departure • Provide support for RSV volunteers during and after the programme • Ensure that all equipment for the RSV trips have been purchased and organised for ease of use • Ensure that every RSV volunteer has a positive experience!
Looking forward to all of the great things SoRHA will achieve in 2025!
