21st WONCA World Rural Health Conference, 10-13 April 2026: Read More – WONCA 2026 | Home
When you think of rural health challenges, Kāpiti might not immediately come to mind—but this coastal community of over 55,000 people shares many of the same obstacles faced by more traditionally rural regions. With no hospital and the nearest emergency department over an hour away, the Kāpiti Health Advisory Group is working hard to change that—and their recent membership with Hauora Taiwhenua signals a deepening commitment to collaborative rural health advocacy.
“We joined Hauora Taiwhenua because we saw the same issues being faced across the country in rural communities,” says Sandra Daly, Chair of the Kāpiti Health Advisory Group. “The work of Hauora Taiwhenua resonated with us, and we wanted to be part of a collective voice advocating for better services.”
The connection was sparked by a conversation with Mark Eager, Chief Executive of Mobile Health, who encouraged the Kāpiti Health Advisory Group to explore Hauora Taiwhenua’s work. “After that conversation, I joined one of the Rural Communities Chapter meetings and was impressed by the common challenges we shared and the work being done across rural areas,” Sandra adds.
Formed as a formal advisory body to the Kāpiti Coast District Council (KCDC), the group is made up entirely of volunteers—many of whom bring significant experience in health, public policy, and community service. Their aim? To improve access to health services for Kāpiti residents through practical, community-led action and strategic advocacy.
“We face the same pressures as many other rural areas—underfunded services, workforce shortages, and growing demand,” explains Sandra. “But here, it’s compounded by a rapidly ageing population and increasing numbers of young families. By 2030, we’re expected to reach 80,000 residents. The system just isn’t keeping up.”
To meet these challenges, the Advisory Group is leading a major initiative: the development of a “compelling case” for upgrading the current Kāpiti health centre into a comprehensive polyclinic with 24/7 urgent care, diagnostics, and outpatient services, see more info here.
“We’ve had huge community support,” says Sandra. “Through ten public meetings and consultations with local boards, we’ve confirmed that residents back this vision. That was key to getting our Council onboard—and now they’re working with Health New Zealand to explore a formal agreement to move it forward.”
In addition to big-picture advocacy, the group is also running practical, grassroots initiatives—like their nutritious recipe card project. After discovering unexpectedly high rates of undernutrition among children in the region, the group took action.
“We found that foodbanks often had healthy items like frozen fish and legumes, but people didn’t take them because they didn’t know how to use them,” Sandra explains. “So we created colourful, easy-to-follow recipe cards with simple, low-cost meals—and they’ve been a hit across the community.”
Other achievements include:
A Model Worth Replicating
For other communities considering similar action, Sandra is clear: “Our formal connection to Council has been one of our greatest strengths. It gives our work legitimacy and influence—and more and more councils are looking at establishing groups like ours.”
Her advice to other regions? “Don’t wait. Communities will need to step up to safeguard the services they rely on—and councils are in a great position to partner with groups like ours to make sure local voices are heard.”
To find out more or connect with the group, contact Sandra Daly at dalys@dalys.nz.
