For families in Kawakawa, impactful surgical care is now parked right on their doorstep.
Mobile Health Group (MHG) officially welcomed Bay of Islands Hospital into its Mobile Surgical Unit (MSU) schedule on Father’s Day, marking a milestone moment for the small Northland town. The unit was blessed onsite in a special ceremony with local Kaumātua Moriki Hogan and Ned Peita, with support from Mare Clarke in collaboration with Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand. Local community, hospital staff and rangatahi all played a meaningful part in the celebration.
MHG Chief Executive, Mark Eager, said the opening was not only a success, but a reminder of the values that drive the MSU.
“We’re always looking for innovative ways to keep our services sustainable and ensure rural communities get the healthcare they deserve. At the blessing with Te Whatu Ora, we were joined by three wonderful students from Kerikeri High School who spent the day on the Mobile Surgical Unit. We had them in scrubs, performing pretend surgeries alongside our team giving them a fun and inspiring insight into healthcare and what our mahi looks like as we travel the motu. For me, that was one of the greatest highlights. Seeing the joy on their faces, and their genuine curiosity to learn, was incredible. It truly was an opening that reflected the community spirit of Kawakawa.”
Mark also shared that the day captured the power of partnership.
“We’ve worked alongside Te Whatu Ora for many years in a partnership built on shared values of equity and access to healthcare for all. The Kawakawa opening and blessing was a significant tribute to that relationship, and a reminder of what we can achieve together.”
For Jen Thomas, Operations Manager of Bay of Islands Hospital and Dargaville, the day was equally meaningful.
“This partnership with Mobile Health Group is about more than surgery it’s about equity. By bringing the Mobile Surgical Unit here, we’re making sure people in our rural communities don’t have to travel long distances for care. The opening in Kawakawa showed just how powerful collaboration can be in creating better health outcomes.”
The celebrations quickly moved into action. The very next morning, the MSU began operating from its new site, giving the team a chance to settle into their new surroundings and connect with Bay of Islands staff who they will now be working alongside.
MHG Clinical Nurse Manager, Kelly Ewen, said there was an undeniable buzz as the first patients came through.
“We operated from Monday to Wednesday, supporting whanau and performing dental surgeries for their tamariki. It truly is a privilege to bring this service and more to the community of Kawakawa. As a team, we feel incredibly lucky to work alongside the rural community providing the care that is needed.”
As the wheels of the MSU rolled into Kawakawa, so did a new era of accessible healthcare. MHG is looking forward to building strong relationships with the community and delivering positive health outcomes for patients across the region.
Our clinical team performing a pretend operation alongside Kerikeri High School students.
Kerikeri High School students, Willow, Ashanti and Ethan.
CE Mark Eager preparing the students for a full day of pretend surgery.