Across the globe today we celebrate International Nurses Day and this year’s theme 'our nurses, our future: caring for nurses strengthens economies' has never been more relevant. Pinnacle is so fortunate to have dedicated, capable and expert nurses working across the network, and in our practices.

A group of new graduate nurses recently attended an orientation day as part of Pinnacle’s longstanding nurse graduate programme, a unique initiative designed to support and strengthen the primary care nursing workforce.

Pinnacle welcomes the focus on strengthening primary care access, investment in general practice, and commitments to digital health infrastructure.

Pinnacle welcomes the lowering of the age of eligibility for free bowel screening to 58 as a positive step toward earlier cancer detection, however, reallocating funding from the targeted Māori and Pasifika programme is inherently inequitable.

Pinnacle welcomes the government’s announcements this week of increased funding and workforce initiatives for general practice. Primary care is under immense pressure, with workforce shortages and financial constraints making it harder for practices to provide timely care.

Pinnacle Midlands Health Network has been acknowledged with the highest rating in a Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand cultural audit for its “alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and commitment to improving Māori health outcomes”.

Pinnacle is excited to reopen Kia Puāwai (our Māori and Pasifika Education Fund) for 2025. This fund, with a value of $15,000 (up to $5,000 each for up to three people), has been created to tautoko the continuous development and career progression of our Māori, and now also Pasifika, workforce.

As a primary health organisation, we see firsthand the challenges faced by our communities, particularly those most vulnerable. Te Tiriti o Waitangi has long served as a foundation for addressing inequities in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly in healthcare.

Fortnightly clinics at two Raglan marae have enabled Raglan Medical to engage with some of the most vulnerable members of its Waikato west coast community.

Bronwyn Dennis, kaimanaaki Waikato, joined Pinnacle in March 2024. This role is designed to be a navigator of manaakitanga, building trusting relationships with iwi, mana whenua and whānau and is modelled on aroha, values and respect.