North Canterbury News: December 07, 2023

NC after care still in limbo
By DAVIDHILL,
Local Democracy Reporter
Alack of after hours healthcareinNorth
Canterburyisnocloser to being resolved.
With the promised after hours facility at
the Rangiora Health Hub not expected to
open until 2025, Te Whatu Ora Health New
Zealand advised apublic meeting in
Rangiora in April it had asked local GPs to
come up with an interim plan.
But seven months on, Te Whatu Ora
Waitaha Canterbury group manager,office
of the regional wayfinder, Greg Hamilton
said ‘‘conversations are continuing’’.
‘‘We are continuing to work with the key
parties involved in the new practice and
Hato Hone St John, exploring options for
after­hours provision locally that could be
operational before the new facility opens.’’
Waimakariri residents accessing after
hours medical services in Christchurch
had increased by 17 percent since 2019, Te
Whatu Ora advised the April meeting,
which had been called by Waimakariri MP
Matt Doocey.
The Ministry of Health entered into an
agreement with South Link Health Group
in 2021, following apetition calling for
after hours health care being presented to
the former CanterburyDistrict Health
Board (CDHB) two years earlier.
South Link Health Group, which is a
network of 26 medical practises, is
responsible for funding and constructing
the new facility.
It will include full radiology services
(ultrasound, CT and MRI scans), GP
services, apharmacy, and urgent after
hours healthcare.
Aresource consent was granted by the
Waimakariri District Council in
November last year.
Aspokesperson for South Link Health
Group said abuilding consent was ready to
be presented and it was seeking tenders by
the end of January.
Work on the site is expected to begin in
March, with the new Rangiora Medical
Centre on track to open in the first half of
Concept design ... An artist’s impression of the proposed Rangiora Medical Centre, which
will provide after hours, urgent care.
IMAGE: SUPPLIED BY SOUTH LINK HEALTH GROUP
2025.
The spokesperson said staff recruitment
continued to be ‘‘a major challenge’’.
Mr Doocey said he was frustrated the
building consent has not yet been lodged,
and is calling for clearer communication
from Health NZ.
‘‘This is yet another example of this
project dragging further out, and all the
while the growing community of
Waimakariri is left more confused, and
without fit­for­purpose health services.
‘‘Let’s be clear, residents in Waimakariri
have been promised afacility and have
patiently waited for long enough now.’’
Limited after hours healthcare is
available at Durham Health, Rangiora,
and the Amberley Medical Centre over the
weekend, and at local pharmacies.
Residents can ring 111 in an emergency,
contact their GP to speak to atriage nurse,
call Healthline 0800 611116 for free advice
from anurse, or arrange online video
consultations with adoctor (for acharge).
The after hours triage service is delivered
by Whakarongarou and operates in North
Canterbury, with access to aStJohn
paramedic if aface to face assessment is
required.
The service has been expanded to include
Oxford, Amberley and aged care facilities.
Anew rural after hours service, Ka Ora
Telecare, offers phone or video
consultations with adoctor.
Go to kaora.co.nz/app/services/subservices/3.
The Pegasus 24 Hour Surgery in
Christchurch is also available.
Public interest journalism funded
through New Zealand on Air.
No Maori wards in NC ahead of elections
By DAVID HILL
No Māori wards will be established for the
2025 local government elections in North
Canterbury.
The Waimakariri District Council joined
with its neighboursinHurunui and
Kaikōura in voting against establishing a
Māori ward at acouncil meeting on
Tuesday, December 5.
Mayor Dan Gordon said he had met with
representatives from Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri
Rūnanga, which supported the motion to
oppose establishing a Māori ward.
He said the council remained committed
to working in partnership with the
rūnanga.
‘‘Our relationship with Ngāi Tūāhuriri is
very important to us and we have longstanding
connections with them.’’
Areport prepared by the council’s
governance manager, Sarah Nichols, found
the number of people on the Māori roll of
2880 did not reach the threshold for aseat
around the council table alongside the 10
existing councillors and the mayor.
With atotal population of 68,980, Ms
Nichols said there would need to be 3450
people on the Māori roll to reach the
threshold, unless adecision was made to
increase the number of elected members to
12 plus the mayor.
Arepresentation review would need to
be conducted next year if the council
wanted to consider increasing the number
councillors, but this had not been budgeted
for.
Cr Al Blackie said there was no appetite
to increase the number of councillors.
The council voted unanimously against
establishing a Māori ward for the 2025 local
government election.
Afull representation review will be
conducted ahead of the 2028 election.
The Hurunui District Council voted
against establishing a Māori ward at its
September council meeting after
consulting with Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri
Rūnanga and Te Rūnanga oKaikōura.
The following month the Kaikōura
District Council resolved to not establish a
Māori ward based on feedback from Te
Rūnanga oKaikōura.
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