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Hauora Taiwhenua Welcomes Labour’s Focus on Primary Care and its recent Policy Announcement for Financial Assistance to Support GP Ownership in Rural Communities

Media Release

1 December 2025

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network strongly supports Labour’s proposal to provide no- or low-interest loans to General Practitioners (GPs) who want to buy into existing practices or establish new clinics. This initiative is a good step in helping retain a rural health workforce and ensuring a face-to-face service to primary care for rural New Zealanders.

Access to general practice remains a significant challenge, with many rural New Zealanders unable to afford a doctor’s visit and many rural communities struggling to attract and retain GPs. The cost of buying into a practice can be prohibitive, particularly for younger doctors who face student debt and housing costs. Many rural practices will never be able to offer a high financial return for their owners, so reducing financial barriers through this policy will make practice ownership a more viable option and help secure the future of rural healthcare.

We are particularly pleased that the proposal excludes corporate practices and focuses on supporting individual GPs and nurse practitioners to become owner-operators. This aligns with Hauora Taiwhenua’s vision of locally owned practices that deliver culturally appropriate, community-focused care.

However, we urge the Labour Party to ensure that rural and high-needs areas are prioritised in the allocation of these loans. Succession pressures in rural practices are acute, with current staff shortages dire. Two-thirds of current owners are planning to retire within the next decade. Without targeted support, these communities risk losing essential health services.

We note that this follows other recent Labour health policy releases that are also aimed at strengthening primary care throughout New Zealand. Hauora Taiwhenua is cautiously supportive of free GP visits, independent pricing of GP services, review of telehealth incentives, and funding to support practice facility expansion and IT productivity. Chair of Hauora Taiwhenua, Dr Fiona Bolden, stressed that, “we would want to see rural health experts have input into the writing and implementation plans of these policies to ensure that the funding gets to rural practices and their communities and are not just sucked up into more urban delivery.”

This policy is a positive step, but it must be part of a broader strategy to make rural general practice an attractive career path. Hauora Taiwhenua looks forward to working with any future Government that is committed to policies that will meet the needs of rural New Zealand.

ENDS

Media Contact
Sajan Patel
Communications Coordinator

021 472 556
sajan.patel@htrhn.org.nz