Health Minister Andrew Little announces the Government plan to abolish the 20 DHBs. “The Government has been promising a lot and there hasn t been a lot around how it was going to happen, but now they’ve announced their skeletal plan that’s favourable to Māori,” Mikaere said. With a focus on three groups – New Zealand health, Māori health and public health – Mikaere said it would “cut down the red tape” in many areas including waiting times, funding and accessibility. “The current system we are in is quite myopic, and it changes from zone to zone.” He said services are “after contracts all the time, but because everything is about population”, smaller populations would often miss out, requiring them to get “more creative about their finances”.
SH2 closed after crash in Athenree Gorge, north of Tauranga
1 Apr, 2021 10:48 PM
2 minutes to read
Police have been called to Athenree Gorge. Photo / File
Bay of Plenty Times
Five people have reportedly been injured, one seriously, in a crash involving two vehicles in the Athenree Gorge, north of Tauranga.
As of 3.50pm, State Highway 2 in the area remained closed.
The crash was reported to police shortly before 11am.
It happened on the highway near Arden and Mathers roads, approximately 2-3km from Old Tauranga Road towards Tauranga.
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The critically injured person was taken to Thames Hospital by helicopter.
Police advised motorists to avoid the area and seek alternative routes if possible, as the road will be blocked for some time while emergency services work to clear the scene.
Easter holiday road toll: Three dead, 13 injured in New Zealand crashes
2 Apr, 2021 05:00 AM
3 minutes to read
Barney Irvine from AA gives advice for the long weekend.
The holiday weekend has turned to tragedy for loved ones of three people who have died on New Zealand roads so far this Easter.
No one died on our roads last Easter, when the country was in level 4 lockdown to stop the spread of Covid-19.
But with freedom comes a return to the risk of death and injury behind the wheel, as Kiwis make their way around the country for the four-day holiday weekend.
John McLoughlin gets community service award before he dies
3 Feb, 2021 07:44 PM
3 minutes to read
Friends gather around John McLoughlin at Thames Hospital, from left, Rod Sutcliffe, Margaret Treleaven and Ian Troughton. Photo / Alison Smith
Bay of Plenty Times
A eulogy is too late to thank a person, thinks Ian Troughton of Thames.
Ian is a friend to John Mcloughlin and made a special effort to show John what he means to everyone, with a special presentation to John at his Thames Hospital bedside.
He was joined by friends and Thames-Coromandel mayor Sandra Goudie who gave John a Community Service award on behalf of the community and with the support from many locals.