What THINK Hauora does

THINK Hauora is a not-for-profit charitable trust operating as the Primary Health Organisation (PHO) for New Zealand's MidCentral district, covering the Manawatū, Horowhenua, Tararua and Ōtaki localities and serving an enrolled population of approximately 180,000 people through a contracted network of 30 General Practice clinics. Previously known as Central PHO, the organisation is funded primarily through capitation from Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) and operates under a regulatory mandate that grants it exclusive primary healthcare delivery rights for the region, governed by a Board with 50/50 iwi representation in alignment with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The organisation's service portfolio spans three layers: (1) a General Practice network supplemented by 30+ community pharmacies, urgent care, and the virtual Practice Plus service (launched 2023 in collaboration with Tū Ora, Pinnacle, Pegasus and Te Awakairangi PHOs, providing same-day video consultations without requiring enrolment); (2) direct clinical services including the Better Breathing Programme, Clinical Dietitian Service, Diabetes Specialist Podiatry Service, Long-term Conditions Nurses, Physical Activity Service, and immunisations/screening; and (3) equity-focused population health programmes — Te Ara Rau Access & Choice mental health and addictions, The Tūturu Service for LGBTQIA+ wellbeing, Pasifika Health Team, RIMA Services for refugees/migrants/asylum seekers (with HOW2), and Here Toitū employment support (with MSD). Underlying technology is conventional healthcare IT: HealthPathways clinical guidance covering 550+ localised conditions, myIndici and Manage My Health patient portals, and the national Book My Vaccine platform.

The business model is capitation-funded with tiered patient co-payments (ranging from $0 for Community Services Card holders aged 0-13 to approximately $62-67 for non-CSC adults aged 45-65), augmented by service-specific contracts with Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Social Development, and DHB alliance partners. The organisation employs 120+ core clinical and non-clinical staff and maintains offices in Palmerston North (headquarters), Levin and Ōtaki. THINK Hauora's strategic emphasis is on equity, cultural stewardship, and community-driven healthcare delivery rather than commercial growth, with no external ownership, fundraising rounds, or M&A activity recorded.

Name

THINK Hauora

Legal name

THINK Hauora

Website

https://thinkhauora.nz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

THINK Hauora is a not-for-profit Primary Health Organisation serving an enrolled population of approximately 180,000 people across New Zealand's MidCentral district through 30 General Practice clinics, capitation-funded by Te Whatu Ora, and delivering equity-focused primary care including virtual GP, mental health, long-term conditions, and population-specific services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Primary Healthcare Services

NAICS

HMO Medical Centers (621491), Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Care Management & Population Health Program Administration (HLAEALAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mixed-Model HMOs (HLAEAMAE)

Keywords

• Primary healthcare services
• General practice network
• Community health programmes
• Mental health support
• Virtual GP appointments

Headquarters

HQ city

Palmerston North

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Capitation: As a PHO, THINK Hauora receives capitation funding from Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) based on enrolled population. Services are subsidised for enrolled patients at contracted General Practices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

THINK Hauora is a Primary Health Organisation (PHO) that delivers and coordinates primary healthcare services across the MidCentral region of New Zealand. It supports a network of 30 General Practice clinics serving 180,000 enrolled people and runs direct clinical programmes covering mental health (Te Ara Rau Access & Choice), long-term conditions management (Better Breathing, Clinical Dietitian, Diabetes Podiatry, Physical Activity), immunisations, screening, and virtual GP care via Practice Plus.

Product overview

THINK Hauora is a Primary Health Organisation (PHO) operating as a not-for-profit charitable trust that provides a broad portfolio of primary healthcare services across the MidCentral region. The organisation functions as a platform supporting a network of 30 General Practice teams, supplemented by direct service delivery through its own programmes. Core services include Practice Plus (virtual GP appointments), long-term conditions management (Better Breathing Programme, Clinical Dietitian Service, Physical Activity Service, Diabetes Podiatry Service, Long-term Conditions Nurses), mental health and wellbeing (Te Ara Rau Access & Choice, The Tūturu Service for LGBTQIA+), population health programmes (immunisations, screening services), and specialised support (Pasifika Health Team, RIMA Services, Here Toitū employment support). The portfolio also includes operational infrastructure such as the EPCC acute care programme, CPD Calendar for provider education, and HealthPathways clinical guidance integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Practice Plus: A collaborative initiative supported by THINK Hauora and other PHOs providing same-day virtual GP appointments for anyone in New Zealand, available on weekdays 9am-10pm and weekends 8am-8pm.
• Here Toitū
• Te Ara Rau Access & Choice
• The Tūturu Service
• Better Breathing Programme (Pulmonary Rehabilitation)
• Clinical Dietitian Service
• Diabetes Specialist Podiatry Service
• RIMA Wellbeing Service

Products and services

• Practice Plus
• Better Breathing Programme (Pulmonary Rehabilitation)

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of Māori Men aged 35-44 enrolled with GP have had Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in last 5 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Te Whatu OracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 September 2024National health authority and primary funder. Dame Karen Poutasi visited as Te Whatu Ora Board Chair to understand health landscape.
• Tū Ora, Pinnacle, Pegasus, Te Awakairangi PHOscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPractice Plus is a collaborative initiative supported by multiple PHOs to improve access to primary care across Aotearoa New Zealand, providing virtual GP appointments.
• HOW2 (Refugee-led Health Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHOW2 is New Zealand's only refugee-led health service located in Palmerston North, working alongside RIMA communities to help them access and navigate the New Zealand health system.
• Te Tihi (Whānau Ora Navigation Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhānau Ora Navigators/Kaiwhakaaraara work alongside whānau to help identify aspirations, strengths and chosen pathway, offering coaching, advocacy and brokerage services.
• Te Ohu Whakaaraara ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhānau Ora service available for everyone using strength-based process to identify whānau goals and aspirations.
• Iwi and Māori ProviderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIwi and Māori providers work across health, social and community space including He Puna Hauora, Best Care Whakapai Hauora, Te Wakahuia O Manawatu, Te Kete Hauora, Muaupoko Tribal Authority, Raukawa Whanau Ora.
• Papaioea Pacific Community Trust (PPCT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatua Ola monthly programme - community-led initiative where Pasifika Health Service provides health education, free health checks and networking.
• MidCentral District Health BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong alliance across health sector with active collaboration for benefit of populations, working together on health services transformation.
• Iwi Māori Partnership BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal health and wellbeing providers and seven local iwi working closely to better meet community needs.
• Ministry of Social Development (MSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHere Toitū programme delivered in partnership with MSD, supporting people with health conditions or disability into sustainable employment.
• Health NavigatorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrusted health website with reliable health information recommended to patients.
• HealthpointminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDirectory of health services and providers in the neighbourhood for finding local healthcare facilities.
• FirstportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDisability support services information and advice resource for Manawatū area and across New Zealand.
• InsideOUT, MaLGRA, YouthLineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity organisations that can refer individuals to The Tūturu Service for LGBTQIA+ wellbeing support.
• Grant ThorntonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting firm engaged for Holiday Act remediation work including health check audit.
• MidCentral DHB, Whanganui Alliance Leadership TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCP Pathways programme initiative improving continuity of care between primary, community and hospital services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pegasus Health: Canterbury-based PHO coordinating primary care across the South Island's largest metro. Also a Practice Plus partner, with a comparable GP network and population-health programme portfolio.
• Tū Ora Compass Health: Wellington-region PHO providing primary healthcare coordination and direct services to an enrolled population. Co-partner in Practice Plus; structurally identical to THINK Hauora as a PHO under capitation funding with GP network model.
• ProCare Health (Auckland): Largest Auckland PHO with extensive GP network and a broad portfolio of direct clinical services (mental health, long-term conditions, immunisation). Comparable in service breadth and primary care coordination role, though operating at materially larger scale.
• Te Awakairangi Health Network: Hutt Valley PHO and Practice Plus co-founder. Similar PHO model with equity focus and Māori/Pasifika health programmes, serving a comparable urban-peripheral catchment in the lower North Island.
• Pinnacle PHO: One of New Zealand's largest PHOs, providing capitation-funded primary care coordination across multiple districts including Waikato. Co-partner in Practice Plus with THINK Hauora, so directly comparable as a PHO operating under the same Te Whatu Ora funding model with similar population-health and equity mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand: National health authority and primary funder of PHOs including THINK Hauora. Sets capitation policy and contracts primary care delivery; not a peer in the operational sense but a critical counterparty whose strategic decisions directly shape THINK Hauora's operating environment.
• Healthline / Whakarongorau Aotearoa: National telehealth and health services organisation providing the free 0800 Healthline, GP after-hours, and mental health support lines. Competitor/adjacent to Practice Plus in the NZ virtual care space, with national reach and government funding.

Regional players

• Whanganui DHB / Te Whatu Ora Whanganui: Neighbouring health system sharing HealthPathways infrastructure and Alliance Leadership Team coordination with THINK Hauora. Operates in adjacent catchment with overlapping equity priorities for Māori populations.
• WellSouth Primary Health Network: Southern-most PHO covering Otago and Southland. Operates same PHO model under Te Whatu Ora capitation with comparable equity and population health mandates; useful as a regional peer benchmark.
• MidCentral District Health Board (now part of Te Whatu Ora): Regional health system covering the same MidCentral catchment as THINK Hauora. Operates hospital and specialist services that THINK Hauora's primary care network feeds into; alliance partner via Alliance Leadership Team and CCP Pathways programme.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2BXNAnKXZoPwz5tIHwJgFA
• Facebookfacebook.com/THINKHauora
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/think-hauora

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about THINK Hauora