Waikato expressions of interest open: Hāpu māmā & child health after-hours / weekend clinics

Pinnacle is proud to continue investing in the health and wellbeing of whānau across Waikato. Now entering its second year, the Hāpu māmā and child health after-hours clinic initiative has already made a real difference.

Last year, whānau across the region accessed care in ways that worked for their lives, with strong uptake of childhood immunisations and overwhelmingly positive feedback from both families and participating practices. We're building on that momentum, and we're inviting more practices to be part of it.

Expressions of interest are now open for general practices across Waikato to participate in delivering hāpu māmā and child health after-hours clinics in 2026 (clinics must be delivered by 30 June, 2026). This is a meaningful opportunity to expand the ways your practice connects with and supports your community — on their terms, at times that work for them.

To discuss next steps and how we can support you to get started, get in touch with Catherine Tobin by Thursday 12 March.

Many whānau find it genuinely difficult to access primary care during standard hours. Work schedules, transport, childcare and other everyday realities can all become barriers. When care is hard to reach, it's often delayed or missed. After-hours and weekend clinics help remove those barriers, creating space for whānau to engage with their health in a way that fits their lives.

For practices, this model offers dedicated, focused time to connect with priority whānau without the pressures of a standard clinic day. It's an opportunity to deepen relationships, improve outcomes, and trial an innovative service model with the full backing and support of Pinnacle MHN.

These clinics are designed to be relaxed, welcoming and whānau-centred. A space where pēpi, tamariki and hāpu māmā can receive comprehensive care in a single visit.

Core services include childhood and maternal immunisations and Before School Checks (B4SC). Depending on your practice's capacity and resources, clinics can also offer GP-led child health appointments, breastfeeding and lactation support, oral health screening, vision and hearing checks, perinatal mental health support, and general wellbeing advice for hāpu māmā.

Practices are encouraged to create a warm, positive atmosphere, whether through activities, kai, or small incentives, making the clinic feel like a safe and welcoming place for the whole whānau.

Clinics must be delivered by 30 June 2026, so we encourage interested practices to get in touch early so we can support you to get up and running in good time.

Participating practices will contribute to measurable reporting outcomes, including:

• the number of childhood immunisations completed
• RN and GP engagements across child health and hāpu māmā appointments
• B4SCs completed.

Beyond the numbers, this model supports broader systemic change: reduced missed immunisation opportunities, stronger relationships between practices and their communities, improved coordination with Outreach Immunisation Services (OIS) and community partners, and better pathways for unenrolled whānau to connect with a regular practice.

Participating practices gain dedicated time to focus on the whānau who most need support, a calm and structured environment for delivering high-quality care, and a strengthened collaborative relationship with OIS. You'll also develop a richer understanding of the health needs in your local community and gain opportunities to build trusted, long-term relationships with whānau.

If your practice is ready to be part of this initiative, we'd love to hear from you. Reach out to Catherine Tobin by Thursday 12 March to find out more.