The summer weather coming back reminds me that even when your health leadership is in tatters, you can always make hay somewhere. Our need for high-quality rural healthcare is steadfast, and our clinicians continue to provide it.

There are a number of highlights for me in the first quarter of this year:

• The first proper hui for the rural clinical health network was chaired by Neta Smith and Jo Scott-Jones, with a clear focus on reducing variance and improving coordination of care.
• Strong presence and message at the Rural Māori Health Summit last week to reiterate our priority for rural Māori.
• Confirmation of the program for the rural health conference May 1-3 and an opportunity for us to share, learn and laugh.
• Supporting the ongoing work around rural and unplanned care that Marie and the HealthNZ team are working hard on.
• Shared work around the opportunities for innovative supervision options for GP training and IMG provisional registration.

I continue to be engaged in the mahi around aeromedical service review and rural hospital training and frequently connect with stakeholders across HealthNZ, Manatū Hauroa and the college. As always please reach out to me by phone or email with your thoughts/opinions/criticism to continue to build our rural health sector.

Dr. Art Nahill, a general physician based in Auckland, and Dr. Glenn Colquhoun, a GP and poet, are embarking on an extraordinary journey in late April—Hīkoi for Health: A People’s Inquiry into Healthcare Reform. This initiative seeks to hear the voices of New Zealanders, collecting stories and ideas about their experiences with the healthcare system and suggestions for its improvement.

In collaboration with renowned artist Nigel Brown, who has transformed their second-hand van into a colorful and thought-provoking mobile "ambulance," the pair will travel from Cape Reinga to Wellington. Along the way, they will engage with communities, documenting the personal experiences of those who interact with the health system. The goal? To present these findings at Parliament in early May.

As Dr. Nahill explains, this journey is about creating positive momentum for reform: "We can’t wait for governments to 'see the light'—we need to shine our passion and ideas so brightly they can’t turn away." This grassroots movement is driven by a shared belief that New Zealand's healthcare system is in dire need of change, from growing waiting lists and overburdened emergency departments to challenges in accessing GP care.

The mobile "ambulance" will also act as a recording studio, gathering stories that will contribute to the urgent conversation on healthcare reform. After Anzac Day, the pair will begin their trek across the North Island, making stops in towns and cities to gather feedback. In May, their findings will be presented to policymakers in Wellington.

How You Can Help: Rural Health NZ members are encouraged to engage with the Hīkoi for Health initiative by sharing their stories and spreading the word about this important cause. Your participation can help bring much-needed attention to the pressing issues facing our health system and promote meaningful change.

To learn more and share your healthcare story, visit healthreformnz.org.

Join us on this crucial journey for a healthier, fairer healthcare system for all New Zealanders.

Rural Women New Zealand are excited to be offering this opportunity to your communities to hear two excellent speakers (Dr Ruth Large and Jenni Falconer) discussing the benefits of telehealth and how to access it. This will focus mainly on the rural areas.

This webinar is being presented on Tuesday March 11^th at 7 p.m. The access link to the webinar will be provided when registration occurs.”

We were very fortunate that Ruth and Jenni, with their breadth and depth of knowledge of Telehealth  agreed to be part of this webinar.

Please feel free to share with any other groups who you feel may be interested.