'Small price to pay': Mackenzie joins rural health network

The Mackenzie District will soon join a national rural health network to bolster advocacy and funding for its healthcare and emergency services.

The decision followed Waitaha Health representative Bill Eschenbach inviting the Mackenzie District Council to join the Hāuora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network, a non-profit organisation advocating for the health and well-being of rural communities, during a recent presentation.

A report prepared by the council's chief executive Angela Oosthuizen and presented to councillors last week, highlighted the district's healthcare hurdles alongside Eschenbach's presentation.

Eschenbach said with the geographically dispersed district, residents often had to travel large distances to access specialists, diagnostic services, emergency healthcare, and other essential support.

These challenges were compounded by workforce shortages, limited after-hours care, transport barriers, and high seasonal visitor demand, he said.

The network was already advancing several rural initiatives, including expanded ambulance coverage, targeted midwifery and postnatal support, improved access to diagnostic testing, and stronger rural emergency care, he said.

Oosthuizen's report said joining the network would provide opportunities to advocate nationally for rural health concerns, participate in the representation of a larger network for improved outcomes, and access rural health research and publications.

Joining would also provide opportunities to connect with rural health professionals and organisations, and provide access to events, webinars, and conferences.

"For Mackenzie District Council, membership would provide an additional avenue to communicate the challenges faced by local communities and contribute to collective advocacy for improved rural health services'' her report said.

Oosthuizen said membership was expected to cost $1200, noting that while it was a "small amount" it was not budgeted for in the council's Annual Plan.

She said councillors needed to decide if they wanted to fund the membership, or not join, whereby the council would only be able to work with the network on advocacy.

Deputy mayor Rit Fisher said the membership fee was a "small price to pay" to provide positive outcomes for the community, and a larger reach in Wellington.

"I think the more councils that engage... gives the rural health network a bit of clout when it comes to dealing with Wellington, and if we're not on that team, we can only advocate on our own," he said.

"I think that solidarity doesn't come at a great cost, and it's something that we can drive positively for our community."

He also said the network had seen "considerable success" with other councils in pushing advocacy and obtaining medical services and support.

Mackenzie councillor for the Opuha ward Mark Adams, the South Canterbury trustee for Rural Support New Zealand, said rural communities needed a pragmatic approach to medical services and emergency response, and was supportive of the council joining the network.

"We've been banging on for a long time in our advocacy around, that urban solutions are different to rural solutions, and that we need a pragmatic approach... so I'm supportive of paying a subscription and seeing what we can achieve in a year."

Opuha ward councillor Phillipa Guerin agreed.

"We are in need of this type of advocacy ... I'm very supportive of unbudgeted funds of $1200 going towards membership,'' she said.

Councillor's approved the membership fee, moving to join the network with the chief executive delegated to complete the necessary membership work.