Queenstown Lakes mayor Glyn Lewers and Central Otago mayor Tim Cadogan have jointly written to New Zealand’s primary health agency to advocate for health services for inland Otago.

The mayors’ letter is in response to Te Whatu Ora’s draft Te Waipounamu Health and Wellbeing Plan.

The three-year strategy for healthcare in the South Island is planned to come into effect from July and Glyn and Tim say it needs to “urgently address” inland Otago’s inadequate access to public health care.

The mayors referenced a long-standing lack of investment in local provision of publicly funded health services, infrastructure, and workforce to meet the districts’ health needs.

“Despite our councils regularly advocating to government for better public health care, we’re yet to see sufficient progress on expanding services, or more flexibility on engaging with communities and the private sector to support the development of local solutions,” Tim said.

Glyn said it is disappointing that Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago are still waiting for access to adequate public local healthcare.

“Concerningly, 70 percent of the people in Aotearoa New Zealand who live two hours or more from a base hospital live in inland Otago. And that’s only counting residents,” he said.

“With facilities several hours drive away it’s not something we can afford to wait any longer for — we’re simply growing too fast.”

The need for increased health services has been gaining traction recently and a public meeting in Wānaka in March brought together elected representatives, health officials and residents to discuss the local health access challenges.

Read more: Community sends resounding message to health officials

Currently, Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago’s combined resident-only population is 79,000, which is similar in size to Palmerston North. Visitors to the region increase the population, and need, substantially.

Queenstown Lakes has been the fastest growing area in New Zealand for many years and has had a population increase of eight percent in the last year alone; Central Otago is the third fastest-growing region. 

“I applaud the essential services and outstanding frontline staff Te Whatu Ora currently delivers for inland Otago communities, and that the agency is working with limited funds and capacity, but our communities can and should expect better,” Glyn said.

Glyn and Tim have invited the Minister of Health to lend support and for Te Whatu Ora to look for innovative and collaboratively delivered solutions that address the needs of the fastest growing area of the country.

The mayors will continue to meet regularly with community leaders and local MPs to jointly progress inland Otago’s growing health needs, they said.

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Te Whatu Ora was approached for comment.

PHOTOS: Supplied