Tuatapere Medical Centre

03/08/2026

Tuatapere and Districts Community. – We Need Your Support

Our Christchurch Emergency Call Centre receives, on average, around 18 ambulance calls each month from the Tuatapere and Districts area.
As a rural community, we face unique challenges. Our Tuatapere First Response unit is reliant on volunteers. The nearest hospital is over an hour away, and the closest additional ambulance is based in Otautau, 25 minutes away. Otautau ambulance is covered by permanent officers during the day and volunteers overnight. At times, these crews may already be attending other patients across Southland when a 111 call is received, leaving our community vulnerable. Your support within the Tuatapere and Districts community is greatly needed.

We are fortunate to have a small group of dedicated volunteers who provide local first response. These individuals step forward to help others in their time of need, while balancing full-time work, family commitments, and busy lives.

Could you help?
• Do you have availability to assist if someone in your community requires urgent care?

Our fully equipped First Response Unit enables trained volunteers to provide immediate care and support until a transporting ambulance can arrive from outside the area.

Hato Hone St John provides full training, equipping our First Responders with the skills and confidence to care for both medical and trauma patients. This includes an internationally recognised First Responder qualification, endorsed by NZQA.

If you are interested in supporting your community and becoming part of Hato Hone St John, please contact:
• Kat Andrew, Group Operations Manager Southland West - 027 291 5462
• Sandra Wilson, Volunteer Support Manager – 027 232 8479

This could be a life-changing decision — not only for you, but for someone in your community when they need help the most 💛💚

05/07/2026

🌿 Does your whānau live a long way from an early childhood service? 👧🏼🧒🏽

Did you know that Te Ara Kōhungahunga provides an early childhood learning programme for tamariki who don't have easy access to an early learning service?

Designed for children aged 2–6 years who meet the eligibility criteria, Te Ara Kōhungahunga brings early learning into your home. Through play-based activities, support from qualified kaiako, and learning resources delivered to your whānau, your child can grow, explore and develop while learning in a way that suits your family. Children living more than 6 km from the nearest licensed early childhood service may be eligible.

If your whānau lives in our district and you don't have an early childhood service nearby, Te Ara Kōhungahunga could be a great option to support your child's learning before they start school.

See more and enroll: https://www.tekura.school.nz/learn-with-us/te-arakhungahunga-early-childhood

29/06/2026

❄️ Liquid Nitrogen Clinic - Thursday 2nd July ! ❄️

Do you have a wart, skin tag, or other benign skin lesion that's bothering you? Our Liquid Nitrogen Clinic offers quick and effective cryotherapy treatment performed by our experienced nursing team.

Cryotherapy can be used to treat a range of common skin conditions, including:
• Warts
• Skin tags
• Sun spots (where appropriate)
• Some benign skin lesions

Appointments are available now!

📞 Contact the clinic to book an assessment or speak with one of our team to see if this treatment is right for you.

For more info: https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/tests-and-treatments/medical-tests-and-procedures/cryotherapy-liquid-nitrogen

Please note: An assessment is required before treatment to ensure cryotherapy is suitable for your skin condition.

29/06/2026

TUATAPERE WALKING GROUP 👟
Starting 7th of July @ 10am!

23/06/2026

Free Nurses Clinic & Affordable Dental Care

Our friendly Nurses Clinic is free and open for walk-ins. We are also offering a Dental Service for just $10 per visit.

To access the Dental Service, bookings are essential. No booking is needed for the Nurses Clinic – simply come along on the day.

Everyone is welcome! See the details below

23/06/2026

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month

Bowel cancer is New Zealand’s second biggest cancer killer, with around 3,000 people diagnosed and 1,200 lives lost each year, yet when detected early, it is often highly treatable.

The National Bowel Screening Programme helps find bowel cancer early, often before symptoms appear. Free screening is available every two years for eligible people aged 58–74, with the starting age reducing to 56 from September 2027.

However, don't wait for a screening kit if you have symptoms. If you notice blood in your poo, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, or ongoing abdominal discomfort, see your healthcare provider promptly.

This month, learn the signs, talk openly about bowel health, and encourage your friends and whānau to get checked when something doesn’t feel right.

Lets get to the bottom of it and together, we can help reduce the impact of bowel cancer in Aotearoa.

11/06/2026

📣📣

Free Nurses Clinic & Affordable Dental Care

Our friendly Nurses Clinic is free and open for walk-ins. We are also offering a Dental Service for just $10 per visit.

To access the Dental Service, bookings are essential. No booking is needed for the Nurses Clinic – simply come along on the day.

Everyone is welcome! See the details below

10/06/2026

27/05/2026

Diphtheria outbreak in Australia

The Ministry has received a few questions over the past week about the emerging diphtheria outbreak in Australia. The short answer is a) the risk to New Zealand remains low and b) we are in regular contact with Australian health authorities about the emerging outbreak.

“Diphtheria often begins with mild, cold-like symptoms but can quickly become severe. In New Zealand the vaccines that protect against diphtheria are given as part of the childhood immunisation programme. Immunisation offers the best protection against the disease. If you or your child have missed getting a vaccine please contact your GP or community immunisation provider” - Dr Corina Grey, New Zealand’s Director of Public Health.

18/05/2026

Please come along, open to everyone in our communities