Ka Ora Telecare – Stellar supporter of rural general practices

Why is Ka Ora Telecare sponsoring the Primary Healthcare Awards?

Because rural primary care deserves to be seen and celebrated. At Ka Ora, we work closely with practices across the motu, and we see firsthand how much they carry: distance, access challenges, workforce pressure and the reality that people living rurally can be more vulnerable when it comes to accessing care. Despite that, practices just get on with it. This sponsorship is our way of backing that mahi and recognising the impact they have every day.

What is Ka Ora Telecare’s key area of involvement in primary care?

We support rural and after hours care, working alongside general practices to improve access when services are stretched or unavailable. In rural communities, barriers to care can be higher, so our role is to be an additional layer of support, helping people access timely advice and care without adding pressure on already busy teams.

What interests you personally about the category Ka Ora Telecare is sponsoring?

The Rural General Practice of the Year category just feels right for us. Rural teams are incredibly resourceful. They solve problems daily, know their communities inside out, and genuinely go the extra mile (often quite literally). They often support populations with fewer options, and they do so with great commitment and care.

What do you hope this sponsorship will achieve for the entrants in this category?

Recognition, first and foremost. Rural practices don’t always get the spotlight, so this is a chance to acknowledge their impact and share what’s working more widely. If it also reinforces the importance of equitable access to care for rural communities, then that’s a real win.

Is there a great experience from primary care you can share?

What stands out is how quickly people rally around patients. A nurse staying late, a GP squeezing someone in, a calm follow-up call. Often, it’s those small, human moments that make the biggest difference, especially for people who might otherwise miss out on care.

How would you describe the sector?

Busy, under pressure, but full of heart. It’s a sector built on relationships and community, continually adapting to meet increasingly complex patient needs.

If you had to name a song as the anthem for primary care, what would it be?

Count on Me (Bruno Mars). It says it all. Primary care is about being there when people need you.

The New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards | He Tohu Mauri Ora is Aotearoa’s premiere celebration of excellence in the field of primary healthcare. The awards honour the incredible contributions of our healthcare professionals in a wide range of categories. Category list available on www.nzphawards.co.nz/categories.