Articles tagged with Rural Communities

Showing 11 of 26 articles

Ministers Doocey and Patterson engage with Thames community to enhance rural healthcare access

30 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1109 views

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are visiting Thames to engage with the local community and gather feedback on the implementation of the Rural Health Strategy. The main focus of the roadshows is to address concerns about healthcare access in rural and remote areas, with Budget 2025 allocating $164 million to enhance urgent and after-hours care nationwide, particularly in rural communities. The government is committed to strengthening rural healthcare, expanding the rural health workforce, and improving access to quality care for all New Zealanders, including those in rural communities.

Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Rural Health Healthcare Rural Communities Budget 2025 New Zealanders Mental Health Roadshows Rural Health Strategy

Strengthening Rural Health on the West Coast: Ministers Engage with Greymouth Community

29 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1020 views

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are visiting Greymouth as part of the Rural Health Roadshow to address healthcare challenges in geographically spread-out communities like the West Coast. Budget 2025 allocated $164 million to enhance urgent and after-hours care, aiming to ensure 98% of New Zealanders can reach urgent care within an hour. The Government is dedicated to removing geographic barriers to healthcare access, focusing on strengthening mental health and rural healthcare outcomes for all New Zealanders, especially those in rural communities like Greymouth.

Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Associate Health Minister Rural Health Minister for Rural Communities Greymouth Roadshow Budget 2025 New Zealanders Mental Health

Rural Health Roadshow: Ministers Visit Te Kūiti to Enhance Healthcare Access and Services

24 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1145 views

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are conducting the Rural Health Roadshow in Te Kūiti, the tenth stop on the tour. The roadshow aims to gather feedback from rural communities and healthcare providers to assess the Rural Health Strategy's implementation and identify areas for improvement. Te Kūiti hosts one of six rural urgent care prototypes, part of a national initiative to enhance rural healthcare services, supported by a $164 million investment to strengthen urgent and after-hours care across New Zealand.

Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Rural Health Te Kūiti Roadshow Rural Communities Healthcare Rural Health Strategy Budget 2025 New Zealanders

New Zealand's First Rural Training Hub Announced in South Taranaki

23 Sep 2025 | 11 months ago | 1060 views

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson announced the establishment of New Zealand's first Rural Training Hub in South Taranaki, aiming to strengthen rural healthcare by linking local services, universities, and training providers. The hub will facilitate the education and training of healthcare workers in rural areas, ensuring timely access to care for all New Zealanders. Four hubs will be established across Health NZ regions, with the South Taranaki Hub involving community input to coordinate placements, training pathways, and pastoral support for healthcare professionals.

Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Rural Health Rural Communities South Taranaki Health Workforce Rural Training Hub Healthcare Rural Medical Immersion Programme Rural Health Strategy

Rural Health Roadshow Gathers Momentum in Kaitaia with Ministers Doocey and Patterson

06 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 1379 views

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are conducting a rural health roadshow across New Zealand, currently in Kaitaia, to engage with rural communities and health professionals. The roadshow aims to gather feedback on the Rural Health Strategy, address healthcare challenges, and explore opportunities for improving access and outcomes in rural areas. The Government's commitment to strengthening rural health care includes increased funding for urgent and after-hours care, advancements in surgical services like total knee replacements in Kaitaia, and investments in mental health support through expanded services and the Rural Wellbeing Fund.

Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Associate Health Minister Rural Health Mental Health Rural Communities Rural Health Strategy Government Healthcare New Zealanders

Improving Rural Health Access: Ministers Engage with Tūrangi Community

05 Aug 2025 | 1 year ago | 2247 views

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson are engaging with rural communities in Tūrangi to improve access to care nationwide. The Rural Health Roadshow allows for direct feedback on the Rural Health Strategy implementation and testing of rural urgent care prototypes. The Government's Budget 2025 allocates $164 million to enhance urgent and after-hours care, benefiting rural and remote communities across New Zealand.

Tags: Matt Doocey Mark Patterson Rural Health Mental Health Tūrangi Rural Communities Healthcare Rural Health Strategy Budget 2025 New Zealanders

Prepare for Adverse Weather: Urgent Message from Agriculture Minister Todd McClay

28 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 1670 views

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay is urging farmers, foresters, and growers in the Top of the South, Bay of Plenty, and parts of Northland to prepare for adverse weather conditions, with orange rain warnings issued for these regions due to significant rainfall expected. MPI staff are on standby to assist, with additional support deployed in affected areas, such as the Top of the South and the Bay of Plenty. Farmers are advised to relocate stock to higher ground in preparation for the storm, and are encouraged to stay updated on weather warnings for further guidance.

Tags: Todd McClay Agriculture Minister farmers foresters growers adverse weather MPI staff rural communities weather warnings surface flooding

Government Increases Financial Support for Nelson Tasman Region's Rural Communities

15 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2813 views

The Government is increasing financial support for rural communities in the Nelson Tasman Region, with an additional $600,000 in funding announced by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay. This brings the total Government contribution to $500,000 to aid farmers, foresters, growers, and rural contractors in recovering from recent severe weather events. The support package includes contributions to the Mayoral Relief Fund, Farmers Adverse Events Trust, Horticulture sector, and coordination efforts to assist affected vineyards, with a focus on providing immediate and meaningful assistance to help rural businesses recover quickly.

Tags: Todd McClay Government rural communities Nelson Tasman Region farmers foresters growers Agriculture and Forestry Minister rural contractors severe weather events

Government Invests $56 Million in Rural Canterbury Water Resilience Projects for Increased Productivity and Climate Adaptation

02 Jul 2025 | 1 year ago | 2447 views

The Government is investing more than $56 million into water resilience projects in rural Canterbury to help protect against changing weather patterns and increase productivity through higher value land use, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson say. “Ease of access to water is a top priority for Canterbury’s rural communities,” Mr Jones says. “Canterbury has so far avoided the extreme drought experienced in previous years, thanks in part to high rainfall over December and January.

Tags: Shane Jones Mark Patterson Government Water resilience projects Canterbury Rural communities Regional Infrastructure Fund Opuha Dam Balmoral Water Storage Facility Waimakariri Irrigation Scheme

Rural Health Roadshow in Wānaka: Ministers Doocey and Patterson Engage with Community for Better Healthcare Access

30 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2188 views

Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Rural Health and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson will be coming to Wānaka today as part of the rural health roadshow happening across the country. “The rural health roadshow is an opportunity for me to hear direct feedback from the public and those who are working in rural health. The roadshow is also a great opportunity to hear how well the Rural Health Strategy is being implemented,” Mr Doocey says.

Tags: Mark patterson Matt doocey Mental health Rural communities Rural health Rural health strategy Rural wellbeing fund

Government Facilitates Support for Flood-Affected Farmers in Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough Regions

30 Jun 2025 | 1 year ago | 2116 views

The Government today classified the flooding across the Nelson, Tasman, and Marlborough regions as a medium-scale adverse event unlocking extra support for flood-affected farmers and growers Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson say. “Last week’s deluge damaged infrastructure such as livestock fences, culverts, and tracks, and left pasture and orchards covered in silt and flood debris,” Mr McClay says. “The Government is making up to $100,000 available to support and coordinate recovery efforts, including up to $20,000 for the Top of the South Rural Support Trust.

Tags: Farmers Mark patterson Marlborough Mayoral relief fund Metservice Ministry for primary industries On farm support Patterson Rural communities Rural support trust Taskforce green Todd mcclay Top of the south rural support trust