Taima Campbell, CEO of Hauraki PHO, shares her perspective on the very different health needs emerging in Paeroa and Thames. The latest reports combine local health data with insights from whānau through the Whānau Voice programme, highlighting challenges ranging from access to dental care and the cost of healthcare in Paeroa to Thames’ changing age profile and the need to balance the needs of kaumātua, tamariki and rangatahi.
The findings show why health services and investment need to reflect the realities of individual communities, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Campbell’s local perspective provides an important on-the-ground view of the issues facing whānau across Hauraki. The Paeroa and Thames reports form part of the wider Te Tiratū Hauora Report Series, building a local picture of health needs across the Tainui waka rohe and bringing whānau voices into health planning and decision-making.