Māori and Pacific Health
For urgent medical attention, always call 111 first.
You can also get free medical advice from a clinician 24/7 via Healthline on 0800 611 116.
Find the right care
Looking to enrol in a general practice? WellSouth supports residents of Otago and Southland to find a general practice or primary care provider. If you have questions or need help enrolling, please call WellSouth's enrolment phone line 0800 478 256.
To find a Māori and Pasifika-focussed community health care provider or service, please visit Healthpoint (find services such as kaupapa Māori on the right).
Our commitment
WellSouth Primary Health Network is committed to achieving equitable health outcomes and promoting cultural wellbeing for communities across the Southern region. A key to this is working together with iwi, hapū, whānau, and Māori and Pacific providers who deliver health care services.
WellSouth facilitates the implementation of equity across primary care health outcomes on a ground level through the Pou Manaaki (Hub Coordinators) and Pou Tōkeke (Project Manager and/or Coordinators). These staff work on quality improvement projects, with a heavy focus on health equity for Māori, Pacific Peoples, and other minority communities (e.g. people living with disabilities, former refugees, people living rurally, LGBTQIA+). They also support these communities to get enrolled with General Practice or promote engagement with them.
At the leadership level, we have the Pou Oraka Matua/Director of Māori Health and Equity who ensures equitable health, resourcing, and funding is delivered to Māori through partnership with Ngāi Tahu iwi and local rūnaka, mātāwaka, and Māori providers. The Pou Oraka Matua also works closely with Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora in commissioning health services.
In the last year, WellSouth has also created two new roles, Senior Clinical Advisors Māori and Pasifika. You can read more about these roles here.
Some of our WellSouth Team with OPICG in Oamaru for a Pink Day HPV screening day.
For more information regarding the Pou Manaaki WellSouth Coordination Hub, please call 0800 200 119.
For primary healthcare providers requiring support or equity information, please click here.
For more information on Māori and Pacific providers, please visit Healthpoint.