More than 500 healthcare professionals came from all over New Zealand to Christchurch for the National Rural Health Conference. Photo: RNZ/Monique Steele
Warning: This article discusses suicide
The rural healthcare sector is telling the government that the way New Zealand addresses health inequalities for rural and indigenous Māori patients will be under global scrutiny next year.
New Zealand will host the World Organisation of Family Doctors' (WONCA) World Rural Health Conference in Wellington in 2026.
The upcoming global event was front of mind for Hauora Taiwhenua (the Rural Health Network) at its National Rural Health Conference held in Christchurch this week.
More than 530 people including rural nurses, doctors and students were at the Te Pae Convention Centre in Ōtautahi on Friday to cover a range of topics and news for the sector.
Around one in five New Zealanders live in rural or remote areas, and these patients generally face greater barriers to accessing healthcare than their urban-dwelling counterparts.
Hauora Taiwhenua represented more than 1800 people across the rural health and well-being, covering rural hospitals, science and research, nurses, general practitioners, and more.
Network chair Dr Fiona Bolden said there were common barriers and solutions to rural healthcare globally, and the 21st annual world rural health conference would be a chance to delve into them.
"This is our chance to showcase our values and mahi on the world stage and have input from our global rural health whānau around solutions," Dr Bolden said.
"The eyes of the world will be upon the rural health teams of Aotearoa New Zealand and upon our government to see how it supports the health of its rural communities, particularly the most vulnerable."
Dr Bolden said there would be a particular focus on culturally appropriate care with the theme, whānau ora integrating mātauranga, Māori indigenous knowledge with rural health for a thriving future.
The event would also land in the year of the next general election in New Zealand, she said.
New Zealanders living in remote or rural areas generally face greater barriers to accessing healthcare than their urban counterparts. Photo: Photo /123RF
Calls for greater maternal mental health for wāhine
Dr Carlton Irving of Te Whakatōhea, Te Ūpokorehe was the chief clinical officer at the now-disestablished Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority - and was now the director of Māori health and consumer at Te Tāhū Hauora, the Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand.
Dr Irving spoke at the National Rural Health Conference on Friday, exploring the vital role of Māori health leadership in Aotearoa and ways to empower rural communities.
He said inequalities in healthcare delivery were "avoidable and unjust", and while Māori were not homogeneous, they were "overwhelmingly vulnerable" compared to any other group in New Zealand society.
He wanted to see greater mental health supports for wāhine during maternity care in particular.
"Wāhine Māori are twice as likely to die during pregnancy than Pākeha. This hasn't changed in 15 years... Things need to change," he said.
"Overwhelmingly, suicide is the leading cause. Forty percent of the deaths are from suicide.
"So where is targeted maternal mental health?"
Dr Irving said fewer maternity services were available rurally deepened by the recent closure of rural birthing units, and the workforce too was beyond crisis point.
"We've got a workforce crisis with somewhere around 40 percent of national midwifery vacancies at the moment. It was a crisis probably at 20 percent.
"We've systemically under-invested in rural midwifery, and it's led to a dearth of services, putting too much work on not enough people to cover too bigger an area.
"The model is broken."
Dr Carlton Irving said inequalities in healthcare delivery] were "avoidable and unjust". Photo: 123RF
Government 'acutely aware' of healthcare issues - Associate Health Minister
In July 2023, the Ministry of Health released its rural health strategy, the first of its kind, setting the direction for improving the health and well-being of rural communities over the next decade.
It aimed to improve access to healthcare, to better value the workforce and support it to meet the needs of rural communities.
Associate Health Minister responsible for rural health Matt Doocey - also the Minister for Mental Health - spoke at the event in Christchurch on Friday.
He said the government was working to improve the reporting and collecting of data for rural patients to set targets and inform the work stream.
"Currently, there is a considerable variation in rural health and hospital services across the country," Doocey said.
"We know that for services to be safe, sustainable and impactful, there are minimum service components that are required."
He said Health New Zealand was developing a rural health services framework to address that.
"The framework is intended to set out Health New Zealand's approach to delivering more consistent and sustainable health services for our rural communities."
Some of the biggest issues affecting the rural heathcare sector were discussed in Christchurch on Friday. Photo: RNZ/Monique Steele
Doocey said targets were "not everything" but they put a line in the sand towards achieving goals and bringing accountability.
"This government is acutely aware of the issues around healthcare. I think having a health minister and associate ministers with clear delegations that we can be then held to account.
"We've put out the first mental health and addiction targets in New Zealand that ultimately says hold us to account because now you can see the data and if we're not delivering to those targets, then you'll have your say."
Doocey said the government was making progress on a rural training hub, choosing a site this month.
It followed an announcement this week that Taupō Hospital was the first North Island hospital to be accredited to deliver Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine training.
Doocey will be touring the country for the rural health roadshow nationwide in the coming months that started in April and will run into October.
The final day of the National Rural Health conference will discuss topics including the threat of climate change to rural health and wellbeing, collaborative approaches to rural health equity and retaining the Māori health workforce, in Christchurch on Saturday.
Where to get help:
- Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason
- Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends
- Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202
- Samaritans: 0800 726 666
- Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
- What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds
- Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English.
- Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
- Healthline: 0800 611 116
- Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
- OUTLine: 0800 688 5463
- Aoake te Rā bereaved by suicide service: or call 0800 000 053
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
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