Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation

23/03/2026

Join us at the Ūkaipō WBOP Big Latch On 💛

📅 Friday 27 March
🕙 From 10am
📍 Pāpāmoa Plaza

Come along for a relaxed morning with other māmā and whānau. There will be spot prizes, activities, and space to connect. Whether you are breastfeeding, expressing, mixed feeding or supporting someone who is, you are welcome.

This is a chance to feel supported, share experiences, and be part of something that normalises breastfeeding in our community.

Visit www.blo.org.nz if you need more information.

04/03/2026

HPV (human papillomavirus) is one of the most common viruses in the world. For many people it causes no harm, but it can lead to several preventable cancers.

The HPV vaccine is the best protection against HPV. It’s a safe and effective way to protect people of all genders. Learn more in this Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora post below 👇

HPV (human papillomavirus) is one of the most common viruses in the world. For many people it causes no harm, but it can lead to several preventable cancers.

✅ The HPV vaccine is the best protection against HPV. It’s a safe and effective way to protect people of all genders.

💙 The HPV vaccine is free for people aged 9 - 26. Most young people are offered the vaccine at school, usually in Year 7 or 8. This is the best time to vaccinate and get long lasting protection.

🏫 Missed it at school? You, or your whānau, can still catch up. It’s easy to get the HPV vaccine from your local healthcare providers. You can also book online through Book My Vaccine.

👫HPV affects everyone. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer caused by HPV, but it’s not the only one. Around a third of HPV related cancers affect men.

🫶When everyone is vaccinated, it helps protect the whole community.

ℹ️ Find out more and book your vaccine today (link in the first comment).

02/03/2026

Kia ora! The HBU Mobile Health Waka calendar for March is here:

20/02/2026

WBOP PHO moves to Seventeenth Avenue in Tauranga

From Monday 23 February, WBOP PHO will operate from a new address at 145 Seventeenth Avenue, Tauranga, joining The Kollective, New Zealand’s largest co-working space dedicated to social impact. The move from 87 First Avenue, only a few minutes away, supports both community connection and a more flexible operating model.

Read the full story here: https://wboppho.org.nz/wbop-pho-moves-to-seventeenth-avenue-in-tauranga/

16/02/2026

When Stella* first came to BeingWell, she felt overwhelmed.
Her blood results scared her. Her weight had reached over 140kg.
She was exhausted, in pain and stuck in a cycle she could not break.

Today, she walks eight kilometres with ease.
She goes to the gym four to five times a week.
She has climbed Mauao.
Her weight has dropped to 116kg.
She runs with her granddaughter.
She feels hopeful about her future.

The turning point was simple. She said yes to support.

BeingWell is WBOP PHO’s free mental health and wellbeing service. You do not need a referral. You can contact the team directly.

Read her full story and learn how to connect:
👉 https://bit.ly/sayingyestoBeingWell

If this feels familiar, you are not alone. Support is here when you are ready.

*To protect her privacy, we are not using her real name.

12/02/2026

The Health Improvement Practitioner role began in New Zealand in 2017 and is still new to many people. In the Bay of Plenty, more people are meeting HIPs through BeingWell in general practice. But do you know what it takes to become one?

HIPs are already qualified health professionals. They complete further training, supervision and real practice assessments before working independently in general practice.

In this article, we explain what that training involves and why it matters for the support you receive. Read here: https://wboppho.org.nz/beingwell-hips-the-training-behind-the-support-you-receive/

10/02/2026

Living close to lots of new people can help illness spread - including meningococcal disease, which can become serious very quickly.

Young people aged 13-25 in their first year living in halls, boarding schools, military barracks, youth justice facilities or other close‑living settings are at higher risk.

The good news: MenB and ACWY immunisations are free for those in their first year of these living situations.

📦 Know someone moving into uni halls or a boarding school this year?

Living close to lots of new people can help illness spread - including meningococcal disease, which can become serious very quickly.

Young people aged 13-25 in their first year living in halls, boarding schools, military barracks, youth justice facilities or other close‑living settings are at higher risk.

The good news: MenB and ACWY immunisations are free for those in their first year of these living situations.
➡️ Two doses for MenB, one for ACWY.

You can book with your GP, Hauora Māori or Pacific provider, some pharmacies, or university health centres. It's ideal to get immunised before moving in, but if already moved in, that's okay! Young people can catch up.

Book at info.health.nz/bookavaccine or call 0800 28 29 26.

More info: info.health.nz

Share this with someone heading into halls this year. ✅

05/02/2026

Waitangi Day is a time to reflect on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how it shapes the way we work with and for our communities.

For us, upholding Te Tiriti is not symbolic. It guides our mahi and how we support fair and positive health experiences for all.

This year, we also hold space for those who have lost loved ones, and for the whānau and communities affected by recent events across our rohe.

We stand alongside our communities, committed to mahi tahi (working together), care and connection, now and into the future.

02/02/2026

Heading to the Pacific? Dengue cases are rising in many countries, including Samoa, American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu.

Learn more below 👇

29/01/2026

📢 Measles case confirmed in Tauranga today

Current locations of interest (will be updated if more are identified):
📍 The General Cafe, Mt Maunganui
📍 PAK'nSAVE Cameron Road, Tauranga

Learn more on Health NZ - Bay of Plenty post below. 👇

📢 Measles case confirmed in Tauranga today

We have confirmed a new measles case in Tauranga, likely linked to overseas travel. It is not connected to the recent national outbreak.

Our public health team is supporting the person and their close contacts as they isolate.

Current locations of interest (will be updated if more are identified):
📍 The General Cafe, Mt Maunganui
📍 PAK'nSAVE Cameron Road, Tauranga

View locations of interest: http://spr.ly/6188h8W1p

Symptoms to look for:
🤒 High fever
🤧 Cough, runny nose, sore red eyes
🔴 Rash starting on the face and spreading down the body

If you have symptoms, please phone your GP before visiting the clinic.

Check your MMR vaccination status.

Two doses protect you best. The MMR vaccine is free for all children and young people under 18 and for adults eligible for publicly funded healthcare.

This case is a reminder of New Zealand’s ongoing risk of further measles outbreaks, especially with overseas travel and low immunisation rates. Please check that you and your whānau are protected. 💙

22/01/2026

Kia ora koutou. We want to pause and acknowledge the devastating events our community is facing following recent severe weather. Our thoughts are with those affected, their whānau and everyone responding and supporting others at this time.

20/01/2026

From our Annual Report: Expanding access to cervical screening across the Bay of Plenty 💙

During the last financial year, WBOP PHO strengthened its Support to Screening Services across the Bay of Plenty. A key highlight in 2024–2025 was the expansion of cervical screening clinics.

We built new partnerships with trusted community providers, including Huria Trust, Rangiora Hub, Waiariki Whānau Mentoring and Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngāti Awa. There are now nine free drop-in clinics for eligible patients running regularly across the Western and Eastern Bay of Plenty.

📍View the clinic schedule here:
https://wboppho.org.nz/cervical-screening-support-bay-of-plenty/ -clinics

💻 We also made it easier for whānau to find support, with a new webpage bringing service information together in one place. Access now: https://wboppho.org.nz/cervical-screening-support-bay-of-plenty/

This post is part of a short series sharing key stories from our Annual Report 2024–2025.

Read the full story here 👉
https://wboppho.org.nz/from-annual-report-expanding-access-to-cervical-screening-across-the-bay-of-plenty/