Latest news with #RuralHealthRoadshow
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Health needs to be put to ministers
Wānaka's most vocal health advocacy group will be demanding more publicly funded services for the region in upcoming meetings with health ministers. Health Action Wānaka have secured a private meeting with the Minister of Health Simeon Brown on July 1 in Auckland, in addition to a meeting with Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey on the same day, during his visit to Wānaka for the Rural Health Roadshow. The group published a health report two months ago exposing urgent unmet health needs in the region and criticising the lack of strategic health planning to meet the Upper Clutha's rapid population growth. Before publishing the report, Health Action Wānaka wrote to Mr Brown sharing their findings and requesting a meeting which they were offered a day after the report went public. As part of the report, they worked with healthcare providers and interviewed locals who have faced inequity when trying to access services. The report exposed gaps across a range of services including mental health, maternity care and aged care, while also highlighting key barriers, such as travel costs, for locals trying to access healthcare in the region. Four members of the group's steering committee are set to travel to Auckland next month for a meeting with Mr Brown, while the remaining member and two representatives from youth mental health NGO, ADL will meet Mr Doocey. Health Action Wānaka spokesperson Monique Mayze said in a statement that they wanted to leave both meetings feeling confident the ministers were considering their recommendations. Part of the group's proposal are three "quick wins" which will include the introduction of telehealth psychiatric consultations, publicly funded blood collection within the next two years and funded radiology services. Ms Mayze said that with the strong evidence they have collected, the ministers will be held directly accountable to the local community for what they choose to do with the information. "Sometimes you have to be the squeaky wheel to get stuff done," she said. "And that's what we will continue to be until our community gets access to the publicly funded health services it needs". The group announced both meetings on their social media and called for community involvement as they plan the specific questions they want to ask during the meetings. They are also urging the community to attend the public questions and answers event with Mr Doocey as a way of showing solidarity in the fight for a more equitable healthcare system. "We need hundreds of locals to turn up," Ms Mayze said. " ... to send a message to Minister Doocey and Minister Brown that something has to be done about the health services inequity in our community." The group's meeting with Mr Doocey will take place before the public event and will be attended by one member of Health Action Wānaka and two representatives from ADL. Ms Mayze said the representatives from ADL will be able to give Mr Doocey insights into the reality of mental health services in the region. This will also help make a strong case for the group's proposal to introduce psychiatric telehealth services for NGOs like ADL. The public event will be held on July 1 at the Lake Wanaka Centre, from 12pm to 1.30pm, as part of the Rural Health Roadshow.
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Northland news in brief: Homicide investigation launched
Police were also seeking any CCTV along Mangakahia Rd, Otaika Valley Rd and State Highway 14 towards Whangārei. Police would particularly like any dashcam footage on the same route between 2pm-8pm. Anyone with information should make a report online, or call 105, quoting the reference number 250509/6749. Information could also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Reserve feedback Far North District Council wants feedback about Rangitoto Reserve, on the Hihi Peninsula in Doubtless Bay. Rangitoto Reserve was classified as a Historic Reserve in October 2024 to recognise its cultural and historical importance. The site includes an impressive pā with visible features such as terracing and kumara pits. The name comes from rangi, meaning 'day,' and toto, meaning 'blood' – understood to signify a 'day of blood.' It may have been the location of a battle, adding to its historic and cultural significance. The council is developing a Reserve Management Plan, with input from local hapū, to ensure it is protected. Council also wants to understand the natural environment and other values connected to the reserve. Submissions can be made via email at submissions@ in person at any FNDC service centre or library, or by mail, by June 2. Rural health roadshow Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Rural Health and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey will be going to 12 rural locations across the country on a Rural Health Roadshow, including Kaitāia. The Rural Health Strategy was published in 2023 and sets the direction for improving the health of people who live in rural communities. Doocey says the rural health road show is an opportunity to hear from the public and those working in rural health about how well the strategy is being implemented. The roadshow will be in Kaitāia on August 7 and to register go to Māori-influenced playground Work is now under way on Te Amo Pūtoro, the first council-owned māra hūpara in the Far North, located at the Kerikeri Sports Complex. Rather than a traditional playground, Te Amo Pūtoro is a māra hūpara – a play space inspired by traditional Māori design using natural materials like logs, rocks and plants. It's a space for all ages to move, explore, and reconnect with te taiao (the natural world). Festival seeks bigger centre The country's premier kapa haka festival has grown so much, organisers have had to cancel plans for this year's event to be hosted in Nelson, and are now looking for a larger centre to take it on. The board of Te Matatini Society Incorporated decided on Friday not to hold the 2027 festival in Te Tauihu o te Waka-a-Māui (Nelson), tiamana (chairperson) Tā Herewini Parata saying it was no reflection on the city but a result of concerns over smaller regions' ability to accommodate burgeoning numbers of kaihaka and supporters. Unesco site call The Conservation Department is calling for suggestions of places that are worthy of being added to New Zealand's existing Unesco World Heritage sites. DoC's international manager, Danica Stent, said New Zealand had some of the most remarkable sites of natural and cultural heritage in the world, worthy of global recognition. Anyone interested in submitting a nomination should do so by July 31, allowing DoC to provide any advice needed to support development of applications. The final closing date for applications is January, 30, 2026. Visit DOC's website
NZ Herald
12-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Far North news in brief: Reserve feedback; rural roadshow and te reo champ
The Far North District Council wants feedback on Rangitoto Reserve, on the Hihi Peninsula in Doubtless Bay. Reserve feedback Far North District Council wants feedback about Rangitoto Reserve, on the Hihi Peninsula in Doubtless Bay. Rangitoto Reserve was classified as a historic reserve in October 2024 to recognise its cultural and historical importance. The site includes an impressive pā with visible features such as terracing and kūmara pits. The name comes from rangi, meaning 'day', and toto, meaning 'blood' – understood to signify a 'day of blood'. It may have been the location of a battle, adding to its historical and cultural significance. The council is developing a Reserve Management Plan, with input from local hapū, to ensure it is protected. The council also wants to understand the natural environment and other values connected to the reserve. Submissions can be made via email at submissions@ in person at any FNDC service centre or library, or by mail, by June 2. Rural roadshow Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Rural Health and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey will be going to 12 rural locations across the country on a Rural Health Roadshow, including Kaitāia. The Rural Health Strategy was published in 2023 and sets the direction for improving the health of people who live in rural communities. The rural health road show is an opportunity for me to hear from the public and those working in rural health about how well the strategy is being implemented. The roadshow will be in Kaitāia on August 7. To register, go to Te reo champs wanted Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the Māori Language Commission, is calling for nominations for Ngā Tohu Reo Māori 2025 – a celebration of those who are championing the normalisation and revitalisation of te reo Māori. Nominations are open until 11.59pm on June 29 and can be made via First-home buyers back CBRE valuers are reporting a steady lift in buyer activity across Northland, with first-home buyers and lifestyle seekers driving much of the momentum. The latest Residential Valuer Insights report shows improving sentiment across the region – particularly in coastal and lifestyle locations – and ongoing appeal for recently renovated properties. The quarterly report, which gathers sentiment from 44 CBRE valuers who collectively assess and value over 850 properties nationwide every month, provides an independent and data-driven view of the market. It found first-home buyers are active across Northland and other regional centres, helping lead market activity in 2025. Craig Russell, CBRE's national director of residential valuations and advisory services, said the presence of first-home buyers in nearly every market is one of the most encouraging signs for 2025. 'In Northland, we're seeing a healthy number of first-home buyers back in the market – part of a broader national trend that's seen around 25-27% of sales going to this group.'
