The Government has announced a programme commencing 2028 that will provide for more doctors to be trained in regions like Hawke’s Bay, with the expectation that local training will encourage new doctors to remain here.
Says Health Minister Brown, “We know that where doctors train often influences where they practise. By embedding students in regional and rural communities, we’re creating a pathway for more doctors to stay and work in the areas that need them most.”
Each year 120 additional Graduate Students of Medicine would receive their initial training at the new University of Waikato medical school, and then a year at HB Hospital, and then their further two years of clinical training in the region within local GP practices and community health providers (yet to be identified).
According to Health Minister Brown, “The programme has been designed so that students – particularly those from regional and rural backgrounds – can complete most of their training within their home regions. Students will receive a balanced clinical education across hospital settings, primary care, and broader community health services, an innovative model that has proven successful internationally.”
Complementing this programme, Hawkes Bay Iwi Māori Partnership Board, Tihei Takitimu, has confirmed a landmark partnership with the University of Waikato to bring a state-of-the-art Community Clinical Learning Centre to Hawke’s Bay.
The initiative marks a massive structural shift for the region, moving beyond a standard medical training outpost to create a comprehensive, primary care academy. The centre will recruit and train local talent right here in the region. Tihei Takitimu says the centre will address severe primary care shortages by building an explicit “grow-our-own” pipeline, rather than competing for external recruitment or relying on short-term locums.
“The iwi-led approach secures a robust ‘social licence’ and unlocks unique opportunities for local co-investment, using regional land, facilities, and deep community networks to lower infrastructure costs and maximize clinical reach.
“By integrating te ao Māori and tikanga into the core training framework, the centre will build deeper community trust, eradicate historic barriers to healthcare, and deliver more holistic, whānau-centred primary care.”
Detailed operational design and structural planning for the Hawke’s Bay Community Clinical Learning Centre will commence over the coming months in close collaboration with regional healthcare providers, local government, and iwi stakeholders.
