Health NZ - Bay of Plenty

03/06/2026

A new co-response team bringing together mental health clinicians and Police is changing how 111 calls are handled in the Western Bay of Plenty. Since April, the team has been attending mental distress callouts, enabling on-the-spot clinical assessments and more compassionate, health-led support.

Early results are promising - with fewer people needing hospital care or police custody, and more getting the help they need at home. It’s a shift toward keeping people at the centre of care, connecting them and their whānau with the right support from the very first response.

🔗 Read the full story to see how this approach is making a difference (link in comments).

📷 Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey visited the co-response team in Tauranga on 3 June 2026.

25/05/2026

The Big Latch on is celebrating 21 years! Our public health team will be at Pāpāmoa Plaza to support the local celebration. Find event details below ❤️

You’re invited to The Big Latch On 2026 💛

Join us as we come together to celebrate, support, and empower māmā and whānau in our community. This special event is all about connection, encouragement, and creating safe spaces for every infant feeding journey.

Whether you’re a new parent, expecting pēpi, supporting a loved one, or simply want to be part of the kaupapa — we’d love to see you there ✨

🤱 Connect with other māmā
🌿 Meet local support services
💛 Celebrate breastfeeding and whānau wellbeing
👶 Everyone is welcome

📅 Friday 29th May 2026
📍 Food Court, Pāpāmoa Plaza

Bring your pēpi, your village, and your aroha — let’s make this year’s Big Latch On one to remember 🤍

28/04/2026

🛡️ Give your tamariki their own shield of protection through immunisation!

Whooping cough can be serious for babies, but protection can start early. When someone who is pregnant receives a free whooping cough immunisation during pregnancy, it helps protect their baby during their first weeks of life.

Babies then build their own protection with immunisations at 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months. Booster doses help keep protection strong throughout life.

Talk to your usual health provider or pharmacist, or visit www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/immunisations to find out more and book an immunisation.

14/04/2026

Check out NZ Civil Defence's handy tips to keep you and your whānau safe during cleanup 👇

For those affected by the severe weather over the weekend, remember to put your safety first with our advice below:

💩 Floodwater can contain sewage and other dangerous materials which can make your home unhealthy.

🏠 Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. If you rent your property, contact your landlord and your contents insurance company.

📷 Remember to take photos and videos of the damage and anything that needs to be thrown away before starting the clean-up, for insurance purposes.

🫧 You’ll need to clean, disinfect, and dry your house and everything in it. Take out everything that is wet and that can be moved. Throw away anything that can’t be cleaned.

🛡️ Protect yourself by wearing masks (P2 or N95), gloves, goggles, clothing that covers your arms and legs, and sturdy footwear, as floodwater can hide hidden debris below the surface.

😷 Keep an eye out for mould, and take extra care if you have asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your health during clean-up.

❤️ Keep tamariki/children and animals away until it’s safe for them.

Cleaning up outdoors? remember to:
🪏 Check before you dig – there may be buried utilities
🏞️ Stay away from flooded areas or waterways
🌳 Be careful around trees that may have been damaged by the weather – they should only be felled by suitably trained persons.
⚡ Treat any fallen power line as live.
🧹 Please don’t try to clear slips or debris on public roads or public land - these need to be assessed and cleared by trained council crews or contractors.

Thank you for the support and aroha you continue to show for the people who have been impacted by the multiple severe weather events this year. Please keep checking on your neighbours and taking care of those around you.

12/04/2026

🌀 Wild weather out there, but our team is still here for you.

Our hospital remains open and all services are operating. If you have a health emergency, please come straight to the Emergency Department.

Have an appointment booked? Clinics and procedures are still going ahead if you can travel safely. If you are unable to get in, please contact us on 0800 333 477 and let us know in advance.

Need health advice?
📞 Healthline 0800 611 116 (free, 24/7)
🌿 Rural callers: 0800 KA ORA (0800 252 672)
💙 Mental wellbeing support: call or text 1737

Keep updated on the local situation by following BOP Civil Defence and MetService New Zealand.

Take care out there, e te whānau. 💙

11/04/2026

In case of power outages or if you or your whānau need to leave quickly:
❤️ Ensure phones, medical devices, and their batteries are charged.
❤️ If anyone in your whare/home takes medication, now's a good time to pop them into your GRAB/GO bag along bottled water. If medication is kept in the fridge, check the lids are firmly on and the'yre in a handy place to grab and go.
❤️ If you are medically dependent on electricity, please ensure your power company knows about your needs.
❤️ If you are medically vulnerable and in areas at risk of flooding or rural locations, please check if family or friends can contact you for check-ins or stay with them instead.

For free, 24/7 health advice, call Healthline 0800 611 116. If you’re based rurally, you can call 0800 KA ORA (0800 252 672) to speak with a nurse or doctor.

Stay safe everyone ❤️

06/04/2026

MetService New Zealand has issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane, including Rotorua - due to hit later this evening🟠 Make sure to check out the post below for more info 👇

Stay safe out there whānau.

UPDATE: 9.53am Thursday 9 April

Mōrena everyone. The Orange Heavy Rain Warning for the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne, including Rotorua has been cancelled.

The Yellow Heavy Rain Watch for the Bay of Plenty, east of Whakatane, remains in place until 4pm this afternoon.

We continue to track the progress of Cyclone Vaianu and will update you when we know more ahead of the weekend.
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UPDATE: as of 10:32am, Wednesday 8 April

Mōrena everyone, we hope you're keeping warm and dry! MetService New Zealand have just updated the Orange Heavy Rain Warning for the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne, including Rotorua.

A further 60-80mm of rain is anticipated to fall on top of what has already fallen from now until 9pm this evening.

Our duty team is continuing to monitor the situation 24/7 and is keeping a close eye on the forecasted track of Cyclone Vaianu. We will update you if anything else changes.

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UPDATE: as of 8:24pm, Tuesday 7 April

Evening all - the expected rain is forecast to come in earlier than initially anticipated so the Heavy Rain warning period is now from 11pm tonight (Tuesday) until 9pm Wednesday 8 April.
Stay safe out there.

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ORIGINAL POST: 10:07am, Tuesday 7 April

Mōrena all, MetService New Zealand have just issued an Orange Heavy Rain Warning for the Bay of Plenty west of Whakatane, including Rotorua for a period of 24 hours from 12am Wednesday, 8 April to 12am Thursday, 9 April.

We can expect 100 to 140 mm of rain, especially inland, with peaks rates of 25 to 40 mm/hour. Localised downpours and possible thunderstorms are expected throughout Wednesday. There is a minimal chance of upgrading to a Red Warning.

The Yellow Heavy Rain Watch for the Bay of Plenty, east of Whakatane, remains in place.

Please take care if you are out and about. Dangerous river conditions, flooding, and slips likely. Streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Dangerous driving conditions and road closures could be expected.

Take care out there!

Tauranga City Council Western Bay of Plenty District Council Ōpōtiki District Council Te Kaunihera ā rohe o Kawerau - Kawerau District Council Te Kaunihera ā-rohe o Whakatāne - Whakatāne District Council Rotorua Lakes Council

02/04/2026

Summer days are officially over – we jump at the chance to enjoy time with whānau and friends – and enjoy the beautiful waters of Aotearoa over a long weekend.

A quick mission to the coast, an early fish, a swim, a dive.

These are moments that feel easy, familiar - and often, unplanned. But these are also the moments where risks can quietly increase.

Because too often, people head out alone.

In Aotearoa’s waters we must expect the unexpected. If you are by yourself, there’s no one to help you when things go wrong.

The conditions may be changing but the risk does not.

Water Safety New Zealand is asking all New Zealanders to make one simple decision on public holiday weekends and every weekend:

Love the water? Share it with a mate.

When something unexpected happens – and it can happen fast – having someone there can make all the difference.

Go together. Come home together.

Know your limits and the conditions

31/03/2026

Winter is approaching. Protect yourself and your family.

Flu vaccines are available starting today, 1 April, to safeguard you and your community this winter.

Alongside flu, Covid, and whooping cough also spread more easily in colder months. Immunisation effectively reduces severe illness, hospitalisation, and the spread of winter viruses.

✅ Flu vaccines available now
✅ Covid vaccines year-round; ensure you’re up-to-date before winter
✅ Free vaccines for those aged 65+, anyone who is pregnant, and people with certain health conditions.

👶 Protect pēpi this winter
Whooping cough (pertussis) can be serious for babies. Pregnant women should get immunised to pass some immunity to newborns until they receive their own immunisations at 6 weeks. (Ensure baby's immunisations are timely!)

You can book vaccines at many pharmacies, GPs, Hauora Māori, and Pacific health providers, as well as some midwives and community vaccinators.

📅 Book your vaccination online at 👉 bookmyvaccine.health.nz

In addition to vaccination, prevent winter illness by staying home if unwell, washing hands frequently, and practicing good hygiene.

30/03/2026

Things we like with wings:
🪽 kererū
🪽 butterflies
🪽 wing mirrors
🪽 cat-eyes
🪽 hospital wings
🪽 Red Bull “gives you wiiings”
🪽 sanitary pads
🪽 rescue helicopters
🪽 BBQ wings
🪽 watching the west wing

Things we don’t like with wings:
🦟 mosquitoes 😩