Minister Doocey Wraps Up Rural Health Roadshow in Whakatāne

Whakatāne marked the thirteenth and final stop on Minister Matt Doocey’s Rural Health Roadshow, co-hosted by Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network. The nationwide series has brought together rural communities, clinicians, and advocates to share local experiences and help shape the Government’s approach to rural health and wellbeing.

Minister Doocey attended a public meeting in Whakatāne to hear directly from the community and frontline health professionals.

“These roadshows have given me the invaluable chance to hear directly from rural communities and those working in rural health about what’s working well and where barriers remain,” Minister Doocey said.

“I want to thank everyone who took time out of their busy days to come along, hear what this Government’s plan is to improve health and mental health outcomes, and share their own stories.

“The bottom line is that people in our rural communities deserve timely, quality health and mental health support, no matter where they live. That’s exactly what this Government is committed to delivering.”

Over the past several months, Hauora Taiwhenua has joined Minister Doocey and local leaders across 13 towns, from Gore to Kaitaia, ensuring that rural voices are heard and their stories are reflected in national decision-making.

The Roadshow has already begun to translate those conversations into meaningful outcomes. One such example came from the Wānaka event, where community concerns around the cost of blood tests led to a new Government initiative delivering free blood testing for nearly 24,000 people in Te Anau and Wānaka.

“When I visited Wānaka as part of the Rural Health Roadshow, locals consistently raised concerns about having to pay for blood tests,” Minister Doocey said. “As I told the community at the time, no one should have to travel long distances or pay extra just because they live rurally. That’s why we made this a priority.”

The initiative means residents no longer need to travel over an hour or pay a co-payment to access essential tests, addressing a long-standing inequity between rural and urban healthcare access.

As the final Roadshow wraps up, Hauora Taiwhenua acknowledges the commitment of Minister Doocey, Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson, local hosts, and every community that took part. The conversations and insights gathered across Aotearoa will continue to inform ongoing advocacy and policy action – ensuring that rural voices remain at the heart of rural health solutions.