On Friday, Health Minister Simeon Brown said a total of 86% of GP clinics voted in favour of Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora’s (HNZ) 2026-27 funding package, which would provide general practices with an additional $120.6 million each year.
But Aspiring Medical Centre GP Dr Fiona MacLean said they would be worse off because of it.
‘‘Obviously, most people voted for yes.
‘‘Most people have decided that they’re better off, and that we are not one of those practices.
‘‘We’re worse off, we’re disappointed, and we’re trying to work out what that means for us as a practice.’’
Dr MacLean said the clinic was initially going to lose out significantly on two separate funding streams: rural funding and capitation.
Because of the vote, their capitation funding was reduced by 11%.
Wānaka was also being reclassified as a first-tier rural area — putting it on par with Ashburton in terms of rurality — which factored into the capitation calculation.
‘‘The drop in capitation isn’t as bad as it was going to be for both lots of funding.
‘‘But that classification of rurality is still affecting us and we feel, as a practice, it is unfair because it doesn’t take into account some of the complexities we see because we don’t have access to secondary care in the vicinity.’’
It had already been confirmed the way rurality was classified was never intended to have any influence on funding calculations, Dr MacLean said.
‘‘It has been used in a way it was never meant to.’’
The clinic would have to look at its service model and how they could navigate through the changes.
There were possible after-hours negotiations still to happen and they were hopeful their community would not be disadvantaged because of that.
Across the country, most practices were better off because of the vote.
‘‘I’m disappointed for the patients in our community because we will have to adjust services accordingly, but I’m probably pleased overall that most practices are happy with the outcome.
‘‘From a general Otago point of view, Otago and Southland, I think most practices are better off.’’
Dr MacLean said changes to rural funding had been paused and she understood they would be revisited in a year.
It could ‘‘still have a big impact on us’’, she said.
Health Action Wānaka chairwoman Monique Mayze said the advocacy group understood the vote would mean less funding for Wānaka’s GP practices.
‘‘Anything that leads to a reduction in services for Wānaka and the Upper Clutha would be a real step back.
‘‘We have been working very hard the last couple of years to get equitable access to health services, in line with our rapid population growth and also our geographical isolation and distance from hospital level services.’’
It was their understanding Wānaka’s rurality had been reclassified to first-tier in terms of capitation, Ms Mayze said
‘‘The situation in Wānaka is very different to, say, a community like Ashburton.
‘‘It doesn’t make sense.’’
Mr Brown’s office referred a request for comment to HNZ which said it could not respond before deadline.
