Health NZ - Tairāwhiti

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Health NZ - Tairāwhiti

The official communications channel of Health NZ Tairāwhiti (previously Hauora Tairāwhiti) Please note this page is only monitored during working hours.

Health New Zealand - Tairāwhiti funds and provides health care services across the Tairāwhiti region. This page is to keep our community up to date with what’s going on at Health New Zealand - Tairāwhiti. Health New Zealand - Tairāwhiti has the right to remove any comments that are offensive or inaccurate.

19/11/2025

Your questions about measles symptoms, answered! We crowdsourced some questions from you, and put them to Paediatrician, Dr Owen Sinclair (Te Rarawa).

If you still have questions, you can talk to your usual GP/Hauora or Pacific health provider, or for immunisation questions call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26. They're open from 8.30am - 9pm, Mon-Fri, and 8.30am - 2pm, Sat and Sun. 😀

Find out more at info.health.nz/measles

17/11/2025

Supporting māmā through every step of the journey 🤍

Pregnancy and early motherhood can be overwhelming - but you don’t have to go through it alone. Our Infant Maternal Mental Health (IMMH) team is here to support māmā with their mental health during pregnancy and up to one year after the birth of pēpi.

Our team includes two registered nurses and a community support worker, offering:
• Holistic, whānau-centred care
• Assessments and psychiatric oversight
• Support with medications (if needed)
• Therapeutic services and clinical follow-up
• Social services support
• Collaborative care with community agencies

📍 We support māmā across Gisborne, Tolaga Bay, Muriwai, and Otoko.

Referrals are easy:
• Call into our office and complete a self-referral form
• We also accept referrals from hospitals, GPs/doctors/Hauora providers, and community agencies

📞 Contact us: Community Mental Health and Addictions Services

79 Lowe Street, Gisborne
0800 999 014 or 06 869 2097

You’re not alone - we’re here to help 💙

05/11/2025

Now is the perfect time to check your immunisation status and book your MMR vaccine.

The MMR vaccine is free for:
- Everyone aged under 18 (regardless of immigration status)
- Adults over 18 eligible for funded healthcare
- Some non-eligible adults during outbreaks in affected regions

How to book 📅

For ages 13 and over, vaccinations can be booked online or over the phone.

- Book a vaccine online: bookmyvaccine.health.nz
- Book over the phone: 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).

For those aged 13 and under, contact your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider to book an appointment.

Children over 3 years old can get an MMR vaccine at lots of pharmacies. You can search for one near you on Healthpoint: www.healthpoint.co.nz/immunisation

You can also book through your GP, nurse, or Hauora Māori or Pacific healthcare provider.

Need help? Call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26 (Mon–Fri 8:30am–9pm, weekends 8:30am–2pm) for support). Interpreters, Māori kaimahi or disability advisors are available.

05/11/2025

Now is the perfect time to check your immunisation status and book your MMR vaccine. Visit bookmyvaccine.health.nz to book online.

You can also book through your GP, nurse, or Hauora Māori or Pacific healthcare provider.

Need help? Call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26 (between 8.30am and 9pm Mon-Fri, or 9am - 2pm Sat and Sun, except public holidays).

The MMR vaccine is free for:

✅ Everyone aged under 18 (regardless of immigration status)
✅ Adults over 18 eligible for funded healthcare
✅ Some non-eligible adults during outbreaks in affected regions

Children over 3 years old can get an MMR vaccine at lots of pharmacies. You can search for one near you on Healthpoint: healthpoint.co.nz/immunisation

04/11/2025

Not sure if you’re protected against measles? Here’s how to check:

💻 Use the online tool
It guides you through what to look for based on your age and vaccination history. Find it here: info.health.nz/measles

💻 Log into My Health Record via your My Health Account to view your immunisation records (available for most people vaccinated after 2005).

👩🏽‍⚕️ Ask your doctor, nurse, healthcare provider or hauora provider. They can check your records or advise if you should get vaccinated.

📱 Call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26 (Mon–Fri 8:30am–9pm, weekends 8:30am–2pm) for support. Interpreters, Māori kaimahi or disability advisors are available.

✅ Other places you can check include your online patient portal (e.g. Manage My Health), your childhood health book such as your Plunket or WellChild Tamariki Ora book, calling your local lab as they might have records of measles immunity tests you've had in the past.

✈️ If you grew up overseas, contact your previous doctor or healthcare clinics to see if they have your immunisation records.

💙 No records? Not sure? It’s safe for most to get another dose of the MMR vaccine and it’s free for most people in NZ.

This Measles Immunisation Week (3–7 Nov), take action to protect yourself and your whānau.

02/11/2025

It’s Measles Immunisation Week! 🛡️

Measles is highly contagious - but the good thing is it’s also preventable. This week is all about making sure our communities are protected.

💉 The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) is free for anyone under 18 and for those eligible for free healthcare.
📍 Drop-in clinics are running across the country - no appointment needed.
👶 Not sure if your child is immunised? Now’s the time to check.

📲 Visit info.health.nz/immunisations/immunisation-clinics for local pop up clinics near you. You can also refer to healthpoint.co.nz as not all immunisation clinics are listed in info.health.nz.

Another option for booking an MMR vaccine is to book online: info.health.nz/bookavaccine

30/10/2025

Is it measles or chickenpox? With measles spreading in Aotearoa NZ, it’s important to know the difference.

Sometimes, measles is mixed up with chickenpox, but they are two very different illnesses, with measles being more severe.

Here’s what to look for:

🤒 Measles: Starts with a high fever, red itchy eyes, a cough and runny nose. A rash follows, starting on the face then covering the body.

😖 Chickenpox: Starts with itchy blisters all over the body. Fever is mild to moderate, and a headache or fatigue might be present.

Before vaccines, some parents held chickenpox or measles “parties”, but these are *not* safe!

Both viruses can cause serious illness, and measles is especially dangerous and can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, and other health complications such as hearing loss.

Deliberately exposing tamariki to measles can put them and others at serious risk, especially those who are immunocompromised.

Both illnesses have vaccines. Check you’re up-to-date with your immunisations to have the best protection: http://spr.ly/61837Eh4h

29/10/2025

Measles is spreading in Aotearoa NZ. Here's what you need to know to protect yourself and your whānau/family.

✅ Check locations of interest: http://spr.ly/61857EFcR

✅ Check if you're immunised against measles: http://spr.ly/61867EFcr

✅ If you are not protected, get immunised. To be protected, you need two doses of the MMR vaccine after 12 months of age. If you are not sure if you have had two doses, it's safe for most to have an additional dose. Book at http://spr.ly/61877EFcT

✅ If you think you might have measles, call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free, 24/7 - they will advise you on what to do.

🤧 Measles starts with a cough, runny nose and sore red eyes. A rash follows. This begins on the face and develops down the body. You can look at photos of measles rash here: http://spr.ly/61887EFcp

‼️ Measles is a serious and very contagious illness. Complications can include pneumonia, brain swelling, hearing loss. In NZ's 2019 measles epidemic, 1 in 3 people with measles needed hospital care. Children are most at risk, especially those under 12 months of age - to protect babies and young children we need as many people immunised as possible.

If you have any questions about the MMR vaccine, talk to your usual health provider, or call the Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26.

Kia mataara, kia haumaru te noho e te whānau!

24/10/2025

Measles is here and there’s an increasing risk of it spreading in our communities. Here’s what you need to know and do to protect yourself and your whānau/family. Click on the photos in this post and swipe through them.

Get immunised. This is the best protection, and it is one of the most effective vaccines providing 99% protection (when two doses are given). Book at bookmyvaccine.nz

Kia mataara, kia haumaru te noho e te whānau!

Keep abreast of locations of interest: info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles/measles-locations-of-interest-in-aotearoa-new-zealand

23/10/2025

Your local pharmacist - here when you need them 💙

In Tairāwhiti, we look out for each other. And your friendly community pharmacist is part of that whānau - here to help with more than you might expect.

They can give expert advice on your medication, treat early skin or eye infections, rashes, and small burns, provide some immunisations and emergency contraception, help if you’ve got a mimi infection, and do basic health check-ups.

No need for an appointment - just pop in and have a kōrero. They’ve got your back.

Find your closest pharmacy at https://www.healthpoint.co.nz.

21/10/2025

Measles update: Three new cases confirmed - two in Manawatū and one in Nelson. Two of the cases are children.

These are in addition to the Auckland case earlier this week.

Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious illness. During the NZ measles epidemic in 2019, 1 in 3 people with measles needed hospital care.

🕵️‍♀️ Contact tracing is underway. We’re supporting all affected individuals and exploring possible undetected community transmission.

✅ Protect yourself and your whānau:
Get 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.

📍For all locations of interest info visit this regularly updated web page: info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles/measles-locations-of-interest-in-aotearoa-new-zealand

There are locations of interest already published for Manawatū. And any further locations of interest that the Manawatū and Nelson cases visited while infectious are being investigated and will be published online as they become available.

Learn about measles and its symptoms: info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/about-measles

If you think you might have measles, call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or call your doctor (do not go into the clinic). They will advise you on what to do.

Media release: tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-information/news-and-updates/escalated-national-risk-of-measles-following-confirmation-of-cases-in-multiple-regions

20/10/2025

Inhaling dust from potting mix or compost can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a severe and sometimes life-threatening chest infection.

To protect your lungs and avoid getting Legionnaires’ disease:

👉 Use potting mix or compost outside
👉 Wear a well-fitting face mask. An N95 or respirator is best
👉 Wear gloves when handling potting mix or compost
👉 Open potting mix or compost bags carefully using scissors, away from your face
👉 Reduce dust by dampening down the potting mix or compost before using it
👉 Wash your hands thoroughly after handling potting mix or compost and before touching your face or removing your mask.

Address

421 Ormond Road
Gisborne
4040

Telephone

+6468690500

Website

http://www.hauoratairawhiti.org.nz/

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