A community-led healthcare project in Matakana Island near Tauranga has received international acclaim, after being presented at a conference in Portugal.
Telehealth services have been boosted for the remote and rural island, which has a population of around 350, following years of poor internet and cell coverage.
Until recently, residents had to travel by boat to the mainland for medical appointments, at a cost.
“When we go to town we more or less need $100 before we even get in our car to catch the barge, that pays for the return trip and maybe some petrol,” Te Awanui Hauora Trust’s Te Uta Roretana told 1News.
The project is called Tapiri Mai, meaning to come together, and sees lead nurse Hera Murray go door-to-door with a Starlink device, helping connect residents with their doctor online.
“It’s a game-changer really, for the community,” she told 1News.
“People are accessing their doctor earlier instead of waiting until it’s too late.”
Starlink is an internet service by SpaceX which uses satellites to provide a fast and reliable connection.
Murray presented Tapiri Mai at the Integrated Care Conference in Lisbon last week.
“It was to go and show the world really how we created something, and created a need for the people and it was by the people too.”
Residents on the island told 1 News the project is a “good idea”.
“It’s taken a bit to get used to but I’ve used it a couple of times and had no problem with it,” Enoka Bobby Rolleston said.
Meanwhile Te Kira Toma said he’s fortunate to have “direct contact with the people that are important to me to keep me healthy”.