National PRIME Committee

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network has released its 2026 Election Manifesto, calling on every political party to commit to six priorities to improve health outcomes and access to healthcare for rural New Zealand ahead of the 7 November election.

Join us for a conversation with health representatives from political parties contesting the 2026 General Election, as they share their priorities for rural health and respond to the issues that matter most to rural communities. Each representative will have the opportunity to outline their party’s vision for rural health, followed by a moderated discussion and questions from the audience.

Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network has welcomed today's Government announcement of new investments to strengthen New Zealand's rural health workforce, describing the package as a significant first step towards addressing long-standing priorities consistently raised by rural communities and clinicians.

Firstly, our congratulations to the Rural Communities Chapter in celebrating the 10th year of RuralFest! This “working day” at parliament continues to hit the mark providing a platform for rigorous conversations and action. On the 20th of April our rural community leaders presented to members of parliament through a structured day of speeches, Q and A, workshops and networking. A well-timed event with the 2026 Election this year and the parties on the road and in the media sharing their vision for health.

Rural health leaders are calling for urgent and coordinated action to address what they describe as serious, measurable, and preventable inequities facing rural communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Released following the 21st WONCA World Rural Health Conference at Tākina Wellington, the Aotearoa New Zealand Declaration on Rural Health 2026 sets out a national framework for improving rural health outcomes and strengthening rural healthcare systems.

Following PHARMAC’s decision to fund additional medicines for use in community settings, including treatments for trauma and medical emergencies, and ketamine for palliative care - Hauora Taiwhenua says the change will materially strengthen urgent care in rural Aotearoa. For Clinical Director Rural Health, Dr Rebekah Doran, the announcement reflects both clinical necessity and sustained rural advocacy.

I grew up in Whakatane in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, which was a much smaller town then it is now. I went to the local high school, and I love living in small communities. I spent much of my adult life living on the Coast Road, just north of Greymouth. When I was there, I worked first at Grey Hospital, then as a GP in Greymouth. As well as working as a GP, I had the privilege of being Chief Medical Officer at West Coast DHB from 2009-2014 - the first GP to be a full CMO. This role led me to be very aware of the pressures on rural health services, and the othering of non-urban places and services in the health scene in NZ in general back then.

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.

One hundred years after its doors first opened, Te Kūiti Hospital remains a cornerstone of health and wellbeing for the King Country – a place where generations have been cared for, trained, and supported. The centenary celebration brought together community members, staff, leaders, and the Health Minister to honour a legacy built on service, resilience, and local innovation.

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.

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.

While national discussions about healthcare often focus on workforce shortages and burnout, the December 2024 New Zealand Women in Medicine (NZWIM) Workforce Survey provides a more nuanced picture — balancing challenges with purpose, and pressures with hope. The survey, the third of its kind produced by NZWIM, captured the experiences of women and gender-diverse doctors across Aotearoa. Hauora Taiwhenua spoke with Dr Orna McGinn, Chair of NZWIM and a rural GP at Ostend Medical Centre on Waiheke Island, about what the findings reveal — particularly through a rural lens. Hauora Taiwhenua spoke with Dr Orna McGinn, Chair of NZWIM and a rural GP at Ostend Medical Centre on Waiheke Island, about what the findings reveal — particularly through a rural lens.