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Snapshot of Health New Zealand - Waikato

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About us

Our health district

On 1 July 2022 Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora became Aotearoa’s new national health authorities and Waikato DHB as an entity was disestablished and became part of Health New Zealand. 

Health New Zealand have its own governance structures, therefore DHB Boards and Advisory Committees ceased to operate on 30 June 2022.

Health New Zealand are committed to delivering a health system that is simpler and more coordinated, allowing for better and more consistent care to support all New Zealanders to live longer and have the best possible quality of life.

For information about the governance of Health New Zealand please visit their websites TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.

Te Whatu Ora in the Waikato serves a population of more than 425,000 and covers more than 21,000km2. It stretches from northern Coromandel to close to Mt Ruapehu in the south, and from Raglan on the west coast to Waihi on the east. 

59% of our population is defined as living in urban areas, and 41% in rural areas.

23% of our population is Māori (compared to the national average of 16%).

The principal iwi (Māori tribal groups) in the Waikato are Hauraki, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Raukawa, and Waikato. Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Whanganui iwi groups also reside within the district, and a significant number of Māori living here affiliate to iwi outside the district.

There are 10 territorial local authorities within Waikato DHB boundaries – Hamilton City, Hauraki, Matamata-Piako, Otorohanga, (part of) Ruapehu, South Waikato, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato, Waipa, and Waitomo.

Waikato DHB receives funding from government to undertake its functions.  

About 60 per cent of funding received by Waikato DHB is used to directly provide hospital and health services, including:

  • five hospital sites including a tertiary teaching hospital (Waikato Hospital in Hamilton), a secondary hospital in Thames, and three rural hospitals in Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui
  • two continuing care facilities
  • one mental health inpatient facility
  • community based services
  • public health services.

The remaining 40 per cent is used to fund contracted services provided by non-government organisations (NGOs), primary health care organisations (PHOs), pharmacies and laboratories, including: 

  • aged related residential care facilities 
  • pharmacies
  • general practitioner (GP) practices
  • Māori organisations
  • Pacific organisations
  • primary health alliance partners.

Some services are funded and contracted nationally by the Ministry of Health and National Health Board, for example public health services, breast and cervical screening, as well as the provision of disability support services for people aged less than 65 years. 

As at 30 June 2020:

  • we have 8012 employees - a total of 6694 FTEs (full-time equivalents)
  • 48.6% are full-time, 47.3% part-time, 4.1% casual
  • we have employees from more than 50 different nationalities and ethnicities working together to provide health services
  • Māori make up 9 per cent of the workforce 
  • NZ European make up the single largest ethnic group of the workforce (46.9 per cent). The second largest group is Asian (25.4%)

Breakdown of employee roles is as follows.

  • 48.2% Nursing
  • 17.6% Management / Administration
  • 17.2% Allied Health
  • 11.9% Medical
  • 5.1% Support

 

Map of the Midland health region

Te Manawa Taki / Midland health region refer to the five district health boards across the central North Island - Waikato, Lakes, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Hauora Tairawhiti district health boards.

The Te Manawa Taki DHBs serve a total population of more than 985,285 (2020/21 population projections).

There is increasing collaboration on regional planning, clinical service planning and clinical record sharing across the Midland region and with the primary health care sector, with a strong focus on improving health and achieving health equity.

Te Manawa Taki Chief Executive (CE) Group oversees regional collaboration including regional clinical networks and forums, executive forums, and workforce programmes.

 

  • Key publications and policies - including our latest annual plan and annual report
  • Newsroom website - Waikato DHB Newsroom includes articles about our people and our organisation, plus our latest videos, local health alerts, and links to relevant articles published by other organisations.
  • Social media - we have a number of Facebook pages (primarily @WaikatoDHB and @WaikatoHospital), and a presence on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.