Blog
Dr Claire Isham, who also works as a specialist GP in Tauranga, received the honour from RNZCGP at a ceremony in Auckland on Saturday. Dr Claire Isham, WBOPPHO’s Clinical Director and specialist GP at Ngāti Kahu Hauora ki Tauranga, has been awarded the Community Service Medal by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners … Read more
The Bay of Plenty service is one of two finalists announced today for Best Mental Health Programme. Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation (WBOPPHO) has been named a finalist in the 2026 New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards | He Tohu Mauri Ora for its BeingWell service. The Bay of Plenty programme is one of … Read more
Welcome to the June 2026 edition of Te Rerenga. This issue highlights how locally led primary care continues to improve access to health services across the Bay of Plenty through innovation, partnership and community leadership. The edition leads with Mental Health Minister Hon Matt Doocey’s visit to BeingWell, where he saw first-hand the programme’s growth … Read more
Following months of negotiations and sector consultation, 86% of voting practices accepted a package that will deliver an additional $120.6 million to primary care and introduce a new capitation model. Te Whatu Ora Health NZ, Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), Contracted Providers and Te Kāhui Hauora Māori have confirmed today that the PSAAP Heads of Agreement … Read more
The first students from the new Graduate School of Medicine are expected in the rohe from 2029, following the success of a proposal from WBOPPHO, local iwi and regional partners. The Western Bay of Plenty has secured a place in The University of Waikato’s new Graduate School of Medicine programme, with medical students expected to … Read more
Hon Matt Doocey met with WBOPPHO on 3 June to hear how a locally coordinated approach is transforming access to primary mental health support in the rohe During a visit to Tauranga on 3 June, Mental Health Minister and Associate Minister of Health Hon Matt Doocey met with frontline teams and service leaders to learn … Read more
Welcome to the March 2026 edition of Te Rerenga. This issue marks a new phase for WBOPPHO, with Sarah Stevenson confirmed as Chief Executive and the organisation settling into its new whare at The Kollective, on Seventeenth Avenue. Across this edition, we share stories that reflect strong local leadership, partnership and the role of primary … Read more
The Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation (WBOPPHO) Board confirmed the appointment of Sarah Stevenson as Chief Executive on 10 March. The decision was formally shared with staff during the organisation’s monthly hui. Sarah has served in the interim role over the past three months, guiding WBOPPHO through a period of change while continuing … Read more
From 23 February, WBOPPHO will operate from a new address at 145 Seventeenth Avenue, Tauranga, joining The Kollective, New Zealand’s largest co-working space dedicated to social impact. The move from 87 First Avenue, only a few minutes away, marks a new chapter and brings us closer to the organisations and communities we work with every … Read more
A personal story of support through BeingWell, WBOPPHO’s free mental health and wellbeing service, and how it helped someone move forward. Stella was referred to BeingWell, WBOPPHO’s free mental health and wellbeing service, through her general practice team in June 2025. To protect her privacy, we are not using her real name and have chosen … Read more
