Te Kūiti Hospital has celebrated its 100-year anniversary, marking a century of service at the heart of the King Country community.
Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey said the milestone underscored the vital role rural hospitals play in providing healthcare close to home.
Serving around 14,200 people across Te Kūiti, Ōtorohanga, Piopio, and Tahāroa, the hospital delivers emergency, specialist, and allied health services, and continues to exceed national targets for shorter emergency department stays.
Doocey said the government is investing $164 million over four years to strengthen urgent and after-hours care nationwide, including rural areas.
Te Kūiti Hospital has also been chosen as one of six rural prototype sites trialling new initiatives such as improved diagnostic access, on-call pharmacy support, and digital tools to assist clinicians.
Brown added that the government’s new medical school at the University of Waikato and rural training hubs will help grow a workforce committed to regional communities. “As we mark 100 years of Te Kūiti Hospital, we’re building the foundations for the next 100,” he said.
