Central Otago residents can meet Health New Zealand leaders next week at a series of public sessions across the region.

The four upcoming community events include an in-person session in Cromwell on Wednesday, November 26, and a virtual meeting later that evening. A panel of Health NZ’s leadership team will answer questions from the public.

In addition to the formal sessions, face-to-face drop-in opportunities will be available for residents wanting more informal discussions with health leaders and local government representatives.

Health New Zealand is developing a clinical services plan for the Otago Central Lakes region. MP Joseph Mooney, who has been part of the Otago Central Lakes Health Services and Assets Project since its inception, said the work marks a significant step forward.

Joseph said it is the first plan of its kind in several decades — and the fastest of its scale in New Zealand.

“The group has made serious progress over the past two years,” he said.

The project group includes Central Otago representatives including Mayor Tamah Alley and MPs Miles Anderson and Todd Stephenson.

Joseph said hundreds of local groups, including tangata whenua, had been consulted as part of the planning process.

Community organisations such as the Wānaka Health Action Group have advocated for more specialist clinics at Dunstan Hospital and improved crisis-level mental health services.

Joseph said new data revealed around 25,000 unnecessary health-related trips are made by Central Otago residents each year, and there were also certain health needs within communities that Health NZ hadn’t known about.

“Ninety per cent of New Zealanders who live more than two hours from a base hospital are in Otago,” he said.

People can submit questions online before the sessions. To register or learn more about health service planning in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes, visit the Health NZ website.Health NZ:

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