Te Kōhao Health Wellness and Diagnostic Centre, located in Hamilton, officially opened on Monday 15 April.
The new facility was opened by Māori King, Kiingi Tuuheitia. Kiingitanga spokesperson Ngira Simmonds said that Kiingi Tuuheitia has given the centre the name Taakiri Tuu in recognition of the hui he called for unity earlier this year.
There was a large turnout at the official opening with over 800 people on the day including Te Kōhao staff, Pacific Radiology staff and local Iwi and community. The ceremony was concluded after karakia with the traditional custom of burying the first carving shavings from the seven ornate pou that safeguard the health and wellbeing of the community.
RHCNZ Medical Imaging Group CEO Terry McLaughlin at the opening of the new facility
This new clinic, one of the first of its kind, is a partnership between Pacific Radiology and Te Kōhao Health. The clinic will help reduce health inequalities for Māori in the Waikato by providing a new model of care that minimises barriers to access and provides timely, essential health services in an appropriate, whanau led environment.
The clinic offers CT, mammogram, ultrasound, and x-ray services.
Lady Tureiti Moxon at the Pou, outside Te Kōhao Health Wellness and Diagnostic Centre
The Managing Director of Te Kōhao Health, Lady Tureiti Moxon, says that on average Māori have the poorest health status of any ethnic group in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Māori are twice as likely to face discrimination in health and are less likely to be referred for diagnostic tests.
Te Kōhao Health is hoping to change these outcomes by disrupting the historic continuum with our Wellness and Diagnostic Centre which has been a dream of ours since 2018.
