Blog

Tāpiri Mai makes national news following international debut

Matakana Island initiative brings rural health innovation to national spotlight After being showcased on the world stage in Lisbon, Portugal, the Tāpiri Mai project has now received national attention, with a feature on TVNZ’s 1News highlighting the impact of this community-led healthcare model. Reporter Jordyn Rudd travelled to Matakana Island to see firsthand how the … Read more

Thank you to all nurse and family doctors!

Honouring our nurses and family doctors

In May, we took a moment to celebrate two vital pillars of the health system: our nurses and family doctors, with short video tributes recognising their impact across the rohe. International Nurses Day (12 May) was an opportunity to acknowledge the care, skill, and heart that nurses bring to their work every day. Our video … Read more

Budget 2025: Primary care funding falls short of rising pressures

Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation (WBOP PHO) joins general practice New Zealand (GPNZ) in raising concern about the lack of real investment in primary care in Budget 2025. Despite ongoing calls from the sector, there is no meaningful uplift to address historic underfunding or support long-term sustainability. While the announcement stated a 7.4 … Read more

Tāpiri Mai showcased at global health conference

Last week, the Tāpiri Mai project took the stage at the International Conference on Integrated Care (ICIC25) in Lisbon, Portugal. The event gathered global leaders in health innovation and provided a platform to share and learn from integrated care models worldwide. Kiri Peita, Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation (WBOP PHO) General Manager: Māori, … Read more

How WBOP PHO Funding Supports Community Care

Clarifying how flexi-funding and service contracts are used to support general practice, outreach, and equity-focused care. Recent public statements have suggested that Western Bay of Plenty PHO retains too much flexible funding and that these funds are not reaching frontline care. We want to share the details on how this funding works and how it … Read more

Statement from WBOP PHO: It’s About Patients, Not PHOs

The recent media focus on PHO transitions in the Bay of Plenty risks missing the deeper issue at stake. This is not a dispute between PHOs, but a structural shift that appears to be driven by large corporates seeking to reshape the system in ways that serve their business models, not necessarily patient care. WBOP … Read more

PHO shift raises concerns for 46,000 patients in the Bay

WBOP PHO leaders voice questions about timing, transparency, and community impact A planned move by several local general practices to switch Primary Health Organisation (PHO) affiliation has sparked concern for more than 46,000 people in the Bay of Plenty. Leaders at the Western Bay of Plenty PHO (WBOP PHO) say the move raises urgent questions … Read more

Group of smiling people of different ages and backgrounds standing by a lake, holding up peace signs. Promotional banner text reads: “The cervical screening self-test is here. It’s a game-changer!”

Free Cervical Screening Clinics Rolling Out Across the Bay

Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation (WBOP PHO) is running free cervical screening clinics in community spaces across the region. These drop-in clinics are part of our ongoing effort to make cervical screening more accessible, more comfortable, and easier to fit into everyday life. If you’ve never been screened, are overdue, or are looking … Read more

Te Rerenga: April 2025 Edition – Supporting Growth

Welcome to the April 2025 edition of Te Rerenga! This issue shines a light on WBOP PHO’s commitment to strengthening the local health workforce, with the return of CME/CNE events, de-escalation and diabetes education training, and the first-ever eCALD sessions held in Tauranga. These opportunities are helping equip our network with the tools and connections … Read more

How new roles in general practice are making a difference in our community

WBOP PHO’s CPCT story featured in GPNZ national report on extended primary care teams A recent report from general practice New Zealand (GPNZ) shows how extended primary care teams are improving access to care across Aotearoa. The document gathers real-life stories and highlights the success of the Comprehensive Primary and Community Teams (CPCT) initiative, which … Read more