15/01/2026
Strong global perspectives, grounded in local reality. We were pleased to help organise and facilitate these conversations. Thank you to Ruth Large and everyone who contributed their time and expertise as speakers, facilitators and hosts.
This week, over 100 health leaders came together to explore what virtual healthcare could look like for Aotearoa.
Clinicians, system leaders and digital health specialists from New Zealand and around the world shared what’s working, what’s shifting, and where the real opportunities sit as pressure on health systems continues to grow.
Some of the numbers that sparked conversation:
→ British Columbia’s (Canada) 811 service has supported 1.7 million people while reducing emergency department demand
→ Northern Region’s Hospital in the Home programme has cared for 20,000 people at home, saving $2.7m
→ BC’s Rural Virtual Support programme has saved $76m in medical travel and kept rural EDs open
→ NSW’s Single Front Door reduced ED referrals from 60% to 20%
We’re seeing similar patterns locally.
At Whakarongorau, 61% of mental health contacts now come through digital channels, not because we pushed it, but because that’s where people feel comfortable reaching out.
We’re resolving 75% of mental health needs on first contact and supporting 1 in 5 New Zealanders to get the right care, right away.
The kōrero didn’t shy away from the hard parts either. Workforce pressure, clinical change, funding models and scaling safely remain real challenges across every system represented.
Day two shifted into co-design, with 103 participants working across six groups on practical challenges including clinical workflows, cultural safety, technology, workforce capability and evaluation.
As one presenter put it, this work is “just the tip of the iceberg.”
Pictured here is around half of the attendees who joined us across the two days.
Thanks to those who supported us: Health Informatics New Zealand, NZ Telehealth Forum & Resource Centre, Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, and Spark Health for making this happen.
