Te Kahu Hauora Pānui (Newsletter)

Whakataukī or Greeting

"Kia ora whānau, welcome to our very first newsletter! This is our way of keeping you informed about services, updates, and health tips that support your hauora.”

Chair’s Report – Te Kahu Hauora Practice

Since the establishment of our GP clinic, built on the strong foundations laid through Te Kahu Hauora, we are seeing meaningful shifts in the way our community engages with healthcare. Our local māori community are accessing services more confidently, and whānau are expressing that they feel welcomed, respected, and comfortable in our environment. The practice reflects our values culturally grounded, warm, and people-centered and this has contributed to strong, positive feedback from those we serve.

Whānau are telling us they appreciate having healthcare that is affordable, accessible, and delivered in a way that genuinely understands and supports the needs of Māori, Pasifika, and the wider community here in Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua. This is about more than offering services; it is about re-establishing trust in health pathways and supporting our people to take an active and informed role in their wellbeing.

As we look forward, our aspirations continue to be innovative and future focused, late last year , I travelled with a delegation of iwi leaders, Māori practitioners, and educators from across Aotearoa to the University of Chinese Medicine in Hangzhou. This visit explored the role of indigenous and traditional medical knowledge and how it may complement and strengthen the hauora models we are developing.

From this trip, we have begun engaging with our new partners to create pathways for our health workforce. This includes opportunities for two-year programmes in Chinese Medicine, majoring in Acupuncture, and one-year herbal programmes for Chinese Medicine practitioners. We are now looking at how we support our people to access these opportunities.

Over time, we intend to develop scholarships for registered nurses, Māori health practitioners, and other health professionals to take part in this training. This represents a significant step toward expanding our capability in holistic and culturally grounded care.

There is exciting work ahead as we continue to think outside the box, uphold our tikanga, and shape a hauora system that serves our people well. Watch this space.

Nga mihi

Hayden Hape

Ngāti Kahungunu Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua

Te Kahu Hauora Turns One!

On the 17 March 2026, Te Kahu Hauora celebrated its first birthday as a medical practice. To mark this special milestone, we are hosting a community celebration to thank everyone for the incredible support we have received over the past 12 months.

Please join us on 17 April 2026 at 173 High Street, Dannevirke, where we will

be holding a sausage sizzle and birthday celebration.

It will be a fun, family-friendly event, with activities for tamariki, so bring the

whānau along and help us celebrate our first year serving the community.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Practice Updates

Keeping Care Affordable at Te Kahu Hauora

We have a few updates about fees and appointments to help us

continue providing affordable, accessible healthcare for our community.

Updated VLCA Consultation Fees (from 1st May 2026)

Following a national funding update for Very Low-Cost Access

(VLCA) practices, consultation co-payments have changed.

New consultation fees:

• Ages 14–17: $13.50

• Ages 18+ with Community Services Card (CSC): $20.00

• Ages 18+ without CSC: $30.50

These fees help us maintain reduced-cost healthcare for our

community.

Staying on Top of Your Account

To maintain our VLCA status and continue offering low

consultation fees, it is important that accounts are kept up to date.

One simple option is to set up an automatic payment,

which spreads the cost of healthcare over time. If you do this, please include your NHI number as the reference so we can correctly allocate your payment. If you’re unsure of your NHI number, our friendly reception team are happy to help.

Thank you for helping us keep our practice running smoothly so we can continue caring for our community.

Enrolments Are Currently Closed (will be opening soon)

Our practice enrolments are currently closed. However, you are welcome to join our waiting list, and we will contact you as soon as a place becomes available.

Ka Ora Telecare

After Hours Support for Our Community Te Kahu Hauora Practice has partnered with Ka Ora Telecare, an after-hours telehealth service designed to support rural whānau and communities when our clinic is closed.

What is Ka Ora Telecare?

Ka Ora Telecare provides same-day phone or video consultations with qualified healthcare professionals. This means you can receive medical advice and care without needing to travel, which is especially helpful for people living in rural areas. The service is available to anyone living in or visiting rural communities across Aotearoa New Zealand.

When is the service available?

• Weekdays: 5:00pm – 8:30am

• Weekends and Public Holidays: 24 hours

How does it work?

When you contact Ka Ora Telecare, you will first speak with a kaiāwhina (support person) or nurse who will assess your health needs. If required, you may then be connected with a doctor or nurse practitioner for further advice or treatment.

This service works alongside your local medical practice and helps ensure continuity of care outside normal clinic hours.

Who can use this service?

• Patients enrolled with a rural medical practice

• People living in or visiting rural areas.

Is there a cost?

• Free: Nurse consultations and for tamariki under 14 years old

• $20: Doctor or nurse practitioner consultations for those over 65 years old or with a Community Services Card

• Standard fee: Applies to other consultations

How to access Ka Ora Telecare

📞 Call: 0800 2 KA ORA (0800 252 672)

💻Book online: kaora.co.nz

If you have any questions or would like help accessing this service, please speak with our friendly reception team.

Saturday After Hours Acute Walk in Clinics

Te Kahu Hauora Practice are delighted to collaborate with Dannevirke Family Health, Tararua Health Group and Dr Shorts Surgery to offer a Saturday After Hours Acute Walk in Clinic. An Acute Walk in Clinic is available Saturday from 10am to 12 noon with a fixed pricing structure. All clinics will take part in a roster. This will be displayed in our waiting room and on the door.

Missed Appointments (DNA)

We understand that life can get busy and sometimes plans change. However, when an appointment is missed without letting us know, it means that valuable clinic time is lost and another patient who may have needed care urgently misses the opportunity to be seen. To help ensure appointments are used effectively and that as many people as possible can access care, Te Kahu Hauora Practice will be introducing a DNA (Did Not Attend) fee for missed appointments from 1 May 2026.

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please contact our reception team as soon as possible so we can offer the appointment to another patient who may be waiting. We kindly ask that cancellations are made with as much notice as possible, ideally at least two hours before your appointment.

Thank you for helping us make sure our appointments are available for everyone in our community who needs care.

Clinic hours - Monday to Wednesday 8.30am

to 6pm, Thursday & Friday 8am to 5pm.

Community Health Focus

Winter Wellness Update

As the weather turns colder and wetter, we are seeing an increase in skin infections such as school sores (impetigo), boils, and strep throat in our community. These infections are caused by bacteria and can spread easily, especially among tamariki.

Simple steps can make a big difference:

• Regular hand washing

• Keeping clothes and bedding clean

• Managing eczema early and well

  
  

If you or your tamariki have sores that aren’t healing, worsening eczema, or a sore throat, please book an appointment with us — early treatment helps prevent complications and spread.

We are also seeing a number of common childhood viral illnesses, including chickenpox, hand, foot and mouth disease, and slapped cheek. These often begin with mild cold-like symptoms (runny nose, low fever, cough), followed by a rash.

To help protect your whānau and others:

• Encourage good hand hygiene

• Avoid sharing drink bottles or cutlery

• Keep tamariki home when they are unwell

  
  

Chickenpox vaccination is fully funded for young children. While there are no vaccines for some of the other viral illnesses, rest and supportive care are usually all that’s needed. Friendly reminder: Measles vaccinations are available at the practice — please contact us if you’d like to check your whānau’s immunisation status.

Flu Vaccine is available from the 1st of April 2025

Call 06 374 9227.

Managing Gout

Gout is a common condition in Aotearoa that causes sudden pain, swelling, and redness in the joints, often in the big toe, foot, or ankle. It happens when uric acid builds up in the blood and forms crystals in the joints. Gout attacks can be very painful but the good news is that gout can be well managed and prevented with the right treatment.

Tips to help manage gout:

Take prescribed gout medicines regularly as advised by your clinician. Drink plenty of water to help flush uric acid from the body. Limit alcohol, especially beer. Reduce foods high in purines such as some red meats and seafood. Maintain a healthy weight and stay active. If you experience sudden joint pain or swelling, contact the clinic.

Our team can help with treatment, medication reviews, and prevention plans so gout attacks happen less often.

12 Month Prescription Change

The Government has announced that it will be possible to prescribe certain medications for up to 12 months from July 2026. Prescriptions will still need to be dispensed from a pharmacy every 3 months. This service will only be available for those with stable conditions on one or two medications. Your healthcare team will make a decision with you to consider if you need to be seen every 3, 6 months or once a year.

A prescription for a controlled drug can only be issued for a month at a time. If you have any questions, please ask one of the clinical team.

If you or your whānau are acutely unwell or experiencing an emergency, please call 111 immediately.

Otherwise, contact us on 06 374 9227 for assistance.

✉ Email: receptionTKH@kahungunutnar.co.nz

🌐 Website: Te Kahu Hauora website

📍 Address: 173 High Street, Dannevirke 4930