What Whanganui Regional Health Network does

Whanganui Regional Health Network (WRHN) is a non-profit charitable trust, originating with the 2009 establishment of its Gonville Health subsidiary, that delivers community-based primary healthcare across the Whanganui rohe (region) of New Zealand. The network operates four wholly-owned subsidiary general practices (Gonville Health, Ruapehu Health, Taihape Health, and Whanganui Accident & Medical) and supports four additional member practices under its umbrella, reaching enrolled patient populations in Whanganui city and rural communities spanning Raetihi, Taihape, Marton, Waiouru, and Ohakune. Beyond clinical consultations, WRHN runs a broad portfolio of free population health programmes including B4 School Checks, immunisation coordination and outreach, bowel/breast/cervical screening support, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, the Gout STOP programme, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for dementia, the Fracture Liaison Service, stop-smoking services (Ngā Taura Tūhono), Healthy Homes assessments, pregnancy and parenting education, and a Wellbeing Team of Health Improvement Practitioners and Health Coaches.

WRHN's core technology layer is the ManageMyHealth patient portal, augmented by a Shared Care Record feature operating over the regional SEHR (Shared Electronic Health Record) system that allows authorised providers (Whanganui Hospital, WAM, Hospice Whanganui, Midcentral DHB emergency department) to view consolidated patient summaries subject to opt-out. The network supplements in-person care with virtual GP services (notably at Taihape Health and via Ka Ora Telecare), online appointment booking through Vensa for outreach immunisations, the Nymbl balance-training app, and an in-development joint long-term conditions app being co-built with neighbouring PHO partners THINK Hauora and Health Hawke's Bay. Mobile healthcare delivery is enabled through a partnership with the Robert Bartley Foundation's Waka Hauora Mobile Health Bus.

Revenue derives from three streams: (1) government capitation and programme funding from Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ, which underwrites free community services and long-term conditions programmes; (2) subsidised general practice consultation fees at subsidiary practices, with differential pricing for Community Services Card holders; and (3) unit-priced urgent care fees at Whanganui Accident & Medical. WRHN is governed by a Board chaired by Dr. Ken Young with Chief Executive Jude MacDonald, and explicitly targets reduced health inequity for Māori, Pasifika, and low socio-economic whānau via a Te Ao Māori-informed, multidisciplinary model of care.

Name

Whanganui Regional Health Network

Legal name

Whanganui Regional Health Network

Website

https://wrhn.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Whanganui Regional Health Network (WRHN) is a non-profit charitable trust delivering community-based primary healthcare across the Whanganui region of New Zealand through four subsidiary general practices, free population health programmes, and partnerships with iwi and government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Primary Healthcare Services

NAICS

Ambulatory Health Care Services (621), Home Health Care Services (62161), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (6213), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Home-Based Primary Care / Medical House Call Practices (HLAFAEAI)

Keywords

• Primary healthcare services
• Community health programmes
• General practice clinics
• Chronic disease management
• Preventive screening services

Headquarters

HQ city

Whanganui

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Health Funding (Te Whatu Ora / Health NZ): WRHN is a non-profit charitable trust that receives government funding to provide primary healthcare support and services across the Whanganui region. Funding is received from Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ to deliver programmes including long-term conditions management, immunisations, health screening, pregnancy and parenting support, and community health services.
2. General Practice Consultation Fees: WRHN subsidiary general practices (Gonville Health, Ruapehu Health, Taihape Health) charge subsidised consultation fees for enrolled patients, with lower fees for Community Services Card holders. WAM charges fees for urgent care services based on time of day, patient age, and cardholder status.
3. Free Community Health Programmes: Many WRHN services are provided free to residents of the Whanganui rohe, funded through government health programmes including B4 School Checks, bowel/breast/cervical screening support, cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation, stop smoking services, gout management, fracture liaison, and healthy homes interventions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Whanganui Regional Health Network (WRHN) is a non-profit charitable trust that delivers community-based primary healthcare programmes, screening, rehabilitation, and clinical support services across the Whanganui region. It operates four wholly owned subsidiary general practices (Gonville Health, Ruapehu Health, Taihape Health, and Whanganui Accident & Medical) and runs a broad portfolio of population health programmes including immunisations, health screening, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, gout management, stop smoking, healthy homes assessments, and dementia support. Services are free or subsidised for residents of the Whanganui rohe, funded primarily through Te Whatu Ora / Health NZ.

Product overview

Whanganui Regional Health Network (WRHN) is a non-profit charitable trust that provides primary healthcare support and services across the Whanganui region through a network of subsidiary general practices (Gonville Health, Ruapehu Health, Taihape Health, and Whanganui Accident & Medical) alongside a broad portfolio of community health programmes. The core offering consists of four subsidiary GP/urgent care practices delivering clinical consultations, specialist procedures, and telehealth, while WRHN itself delivers an extensive suite of population health programmes including cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, the Gout STOP Programme, Brain Health Education, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for dementia, B4 School Checks, immunisation coordination, health screening (bowel, breast, cervical), Fracture Liaison Service, podiatry, stop-smoking services, strength and balance classes, and a Wellbeing Team of Health Improvement Practitioners and Health Coaches. The digital layer includes the ManageMyHealth patient portal with a Shared Care Record connecting to regional hospital and clinic systems, plus Vensa online appointment booking and Ka Ora Telecare telehealth. Key recent initiatives include the Waka Hauora Mobile Health Bus partnership and a new regional collaboration with THINK Hauora and Health Hawke's Bay. The network also runs pregnancy and parenting education, the Incredible Years parenting programme, and Healthy Homes assessments — all aimed at reducing health inequity for Māori, Pasifika, and low-income whānau in the rohe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gonville Health Limited A purpose-built primary care facility in Gonville, Whanganui providing GP, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, and nurse prescriber consultations; specialist services including ECG, spirometry, minor surgery, and health coaching; and a Health Improvement Practitioner.
• Ruapehu Health Limited A rural primary care facility in Raetihi serving the township and wider Waimarino area. Provides GP services, nebuliser treatments, contraceptive implants, quit-smoking support, and virtual GP clinics.
• Taihape Health Limited A primary care clinic serving approximately 3,800 enrolled patients. Provides GP, practice nurse, and nurse practitioner services; x-ray; social worker/counselling; community nursing; visiting specialist and community mental health clinics; ACC consultations; virtual GP services; and a Wednesday clinic in Waiouru.
• Whanganui Accident and Medical (WAM) An urgent care clinic located next to the Emergency Department at Whanganui Hospital, open 8am to 8pm daily including public holidays. Provides urgent and after-hours healthcare for injuries, urgent presentations, and after-hours medical assistance. Does not enrol patients but serves anyone presenting; notes and test results are forwarded to the patient's usual GP.
• Immunisation Coordination and Outreach Immunisation coordination aimed at achieving 95% coverage targets for children at 8 months and 2 years of age, plus outreach services including home visits and a Tuesday drop-in clinic (10am–5pm) at WRHN for childhood immunisations, B4 School Checks, and adult vaccinations including influenza and COVID-19. Online booking available via Vensa.
• Health Screening Services Screening programmes covering bowel cancer (free for ages 58–74 every two years), breast cancer (mammograms for women aged 45–69 via BreastScreen Aotearoa), and cervical cancer (HPV screening for women aged 25–69, including a self-test option from September 2024). Outreach support includes transport, booking assistance, and information for whānau.
• Cardiac Rehabilitation (Heart Recovery) Programme A free four-week virtual programme for people who have had a heart event, procedure, or diagnosed heart condition. Covers education on heart function, cardiac risk factors, medication, emotional wellbeing, nutrition, and a tailored exercise programme, with weekly facilitator consults.
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation (Breathe Easy) Programme A free six-week virtual programme for COPD patients covering exercise sessions, breathlessness management, medication use, fatigue and stress management, dietary advice, and stop-smoking support. Sessions include two exercise sessions per week followed by education and weekly phone calls.
• Gout STOP Programme A three-month programme offering subsidised GP visits, free education consults, uric acid testing, and subsidised gout medication prescriptions for eligible patients. Accessed via health providers or local pharmacists, with contact via 0800 GOUT STOP.
• Brain Health Education Series An education series of three sessions covering healthy brain habits, understanding memory and thinking changes (including mild cognitive impairment and dementia), and planning tools such as Advance Care Plans and Enduring Power of Attorney. Limited to 20 participants per session, available July–November annually.
• Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) A psychological therapy programme for people living with mild to moderate dementia/mate wareware, delivered in group sessions twice weekly for 7 weeks with 5–8 participants. Facilitated by an Occupational Therapist and co-facilitator at WRHN premises.
• Pregnancy and Parenting Services Services include 6-week transition to parenthood classes, weekend classes, Hapū Māmā Day (a full-day wānanga with Te Ao Māori focus), safe sleep education with wahakura and pēpi pods, Wahakura Wānanga weaving programme, and the Incredible Years parenting programme.
• B4 School Check A free health and development check for 4-year-olds, the final Well Child Tamariki Ora check. Conducted by WRHN's Child Health team or at general practices; includes height/weight checks, teeth checks, immunisation review, vision and hearing screening, and parent questionnaires on development and wellbeing.
• Fracture Liaison Service A service helping adults over 50 who have suffered a low-trauma fragility fracture (wrist, shoulder, hip, pelvis, vertebrae, elbow, ribs). Provides bone density assessment, falls risk assessment, bone protection treatment discussion, and personalised information on bone health to prevent subsequent fractures.
• Healthy Homes Programme A programme supporting low-income families with children to live in warm, dry, healthy homes. Established by Te Whatu Ora in 2013. Includes home assessments, referrals to insulation, curtains, bedding, heaters, draught stoppers, minor repairs, and advocacy to landlords.
• Ngā Taura Tūhono Stop Smoking Service A free stop-smoking service delivered in partnership with multiple organisations across the Whanganui region, including a Quit Clinic at 49 Ingestre St, Whanganui. Services include consults, follow-ups, nicotine patches/lozenges/gum, carbon monoxide tests, and referral to GP for prescription medications.
• Podiatry Service A contracted podiatry service for diabetic patients, provided by local podiatrist Leo Brown and Whanganui Foot Clinic. Rural clinics are held at Ratana Health Centre, Rangitikei Health Centre, Taihape Health Ltd, Abbotsford House (Waverley), and Waimarino Health Centre. Referrals made by GP; free for eligible patients.
• Wellbeing Team (HIPs and Health Coaches) Health Improvement Practitioners (HIPs) and Health Coaches located in most general practices, providing brief interventions for wellbeing challenges including alcohol, smoking, lifestyle, anger, stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, and whānau/relationship issues. Free to enrolled patients via self-referral or clinician referral.
• Strength and Balance Classes / Nymbl App Community strength and balance classes for older adults, run by trained instructors across the Whanganui region. Also includes the free Nymbl app — a 10-minute daily balance training programme combining physical exercises with brain games, funded by ACC, designed to reduce falls risk through dual-task balance training.
• Community Connectors Community connectors who bridge health and social services by connecting whānau with iwi providers, Pasifika groups, NGOs, and community organisations. Based at WRHN; accessible via health professional referral, MSD caseworker referral, or self-referral.
• Clinical Pharmacist Service A clinical pharmacist service providing medication reviews (checking blood tests, medication appropriateness, and tolerance), medicines reconciliation (comparing and updating prescribed medications across care transitions), and deprescribing support for patients on ten or more medications. Includes clinical audits for high-risk medicines and chronic disease management.
• Child Asthma and Eczema Pharmacist Support Free pharmacist support for whānau of children with asthma or eczema, providing practical advice on inhaler use, skin care, managing flare-ups and triggers, and home management strategies.
• Self-Management Education Programmes (Living Well with Diabetes, Piki te Ora) Free self-management education workshops for people with long-term conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and gout. Covers planning, healthy eating, exercise, sleep, working with healthcare providers, problem solving and decision-making. Delivered face-to-face and virtually by facilitators with lived experience of the conditions.
• The Incredible Years Parenting Programme A free 14-week programme (2.5 hours per week) for parents or caregivers of children aged 3–8 years with challenging behaviour. Delivered by two facilitators in a group setting, covering positive social skills development, emotional management, and strategies to reduce aggressive or defiant behaviour. Includes mid-week facilitator phone calls and post-programme follow-up.
• Manaaki Te Whānau Outreach Services Community outreach service providing drop-in clinics, immunisation coordination, health screening support (bowel, breast, cervical), transport assistance, and appointment support to whānau across the Whanganui region. Delivered via a mobile health bus partnership and community-based clinics in Marton, Taihape, and Ohakune.
• ManageMyHealth Patient Portal A secure online patient portal available through member general practices, enabling patients to view doctor's/nurse availability and book appointments online, send messages, view medications and request repeat prescriptions, receive immunisation information, and check recent lab results. Includes a Shared Care Record feature connecting to regional health providers.
• Waka Hauora Mobile Health Bus Partnership A partnership with the Robert Bartley Foundation providing the Waka Hauora Mobile Health Bus for delivering primary healthcare directly to communities, including immunisations, cancer screenings, school-based services, and clinical services. The bus includes a private treatment room, hospital bed, storage, and a waiting area.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free health services for all Whanganui region residents, removing cost as a barrier to care
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alzheimers WhanganuicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2025WRHN partnered with Alzheimers Whanganui to deliver the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) programme for people with mild to moderate dementia/mate wareware. Under a 12-month contract starting 1 July, Alzheimers Whanganui became the new facilitators of CST, ensuring continuity of this evidence-based therapy programme in the community.
• THINK HauoracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024WRHN, THINK Hauora, and Health Hawke's Bay signed a Heads of Agreement establishing a joint approach to health service development and delivery across Manawatū, Whanganui, and Hawke's Bay. The collaboration aims to share resources, knowledge, and innovative solutions, including a joint app for patients with long-term conditions like diabetes and chronic pain. Guided by the Pae Ora Act 2022.
• Health Hawke's BaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Part of the tri-PHO Heads of Agreement with THINK Hauora and WRHN. Health Hawke's Bay is focused on health equity for Māori and shares resources and knowledge across the Manawatū-Whanganui-Hawke's Bay region.
• Robert Bartley FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 April 2024WRHN has partnered with the Robert Bartley Foundation's Waka Hauora Mobile Health Bus (launched 2020) to bring primary healthcare directly to communities. The partnership expands access to immunisations, health/cancer screenings, school-based services, and clinical care, particularly for those facing isolation, distance, cost, or illness. The bus provides a private treatment room, hospital bed, storage, and waiting area.
• Whanganui Eye Care TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Whanganui Eye Care Trust Chair (Alan Mangan, former GP) has been engaged in collaborative health strategies with WRHN, contributing to community outreach and care model development.
• Ngā Taura Tūhono Stop Smoking Service PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWRHN partnered with multiple organisations to create Ngā Taura Tūhono Stop Smoking Service, combining existing stop smoking services across the region. Partner locations include Ngā Taura Tūhono (49 Ingestre St), Ruapehu Health, Taihape Health, and Te Oranganui Trust.
• Whanganui Foot Clinic / Leo Brown (Podiatrist)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWRHN contracts local podiatrist Leo Brown of Whanganui Foot Clinic (35 Guyton Street) to provide podiatry clinics for diabetic patients. Rural clinics are held at Ratana Health Centre, Rangitikei Health Centre, Taihape Health Ltd, Abbotsford House (Waverley), and Waimarino Health Centre.
• Te OranganuicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTe Oranganui is a highly valued partner providing exceptional mate wareware (dementia) services grounded in Whānau Ora philosophy. They co-hosted the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council kaupapa hui with WRHN. Te Oranganui also provides stop smoking services as part of the Ngā Taura Tūhono network.
• Indigenous Primary Health Care Council (Canada)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerWRHN participated in a kaupapa hui (hui) with the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council from Canada, sharing presentations on Māori health programmes including Manaaki Hauora, Pasifika services, and Maramataka.
• Age Concern WhanganuiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAge Concern Whanganui provides support, information, and advocacy for older people including those with dementia, offering wellbeing checks, social connection programmes, and elder abuse support services. Referenced as a resource in WRHN's Brain Health support network.
• CART (Community Assessment & Rehabilitation Team)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCART Whanganui supports older people to maintain independence at home through assessment, rehabilitation, and coordination services. Referenced in WRHN's Brain Health Links for dementia support and funding assessment.
• Hospice WhanganuiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospice Whanganui provides compassionate support for people with life-limiting illness and their whānau. Referenced in WRHN's Brain Health support network and has access to the Shared Care Record for patient coordination.
• Ministry of Social Development / Work & Income NZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSD provides financial assistance, Community Services Card scheme, disability allowance, and community support services for people with dementia and their whānau. WRHN's Community Connectors and Healthy Homes programme refer to MSD for housing assistance and financial support.
• Ngā Tai o Te Awa (NTOTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTOTA is highly recommended by WRHN for dedicated dementia support, offering guidance, education, and community networks grounded in manaakitanga and whānau-centred care. WRHN participated in a kaupapa hui with NTOTA.
• Your Way | Kia Roha WhanganuiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYour Way | Kia Roha provides free, independent information and support for individuals and whānau navigating health changes and neurological conditions including dementia in the Whanganui region. Referenced in WRHN's Brain Health Links.
• Te Whatu Ora - Health NZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTe Whatu Ora established the Healthy Homes initiative in 2013, which WRHN implements to support low-income families with children living in cold, damp, and mouldy homes. WRHN also receives government health funding through Te Whatu Ora for community health programmes.
• Te Kotuku HauoraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTe Kotuku Hauora (Marton) hosts WRHN outreach clinics on the 1st Wednesday of each month (from February 2026), providing childhood immunisations, B4 school checks, and other health services.
• General Practices (Member Practices)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWRHN supports 8 general practices under its umbrella including St Johns Medical, Te Waipuna, Bulls Medical, and Stewart Street Surgery (Marton), providing subsidised primary care, shared services, and access to WRHN community health programmes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pinnacle Midlands Health Network: Waikato and Midlands-region PHO operating general practices, equity-focused programmes, and population health initiatives. Closely comparable to WRHN in organisational structure (PHO with subsidiary practices), service breadth, and rural outreach.
• Tu Ora Compass Health: PHO serving the Wellington, Wairarapa, and Kapiti regions, with subsidiary practices and community health programmes. Comparable to WRHN in PHO-plus-practice structure, equity focus, and integration with regional hospital systems via shared records.
• Pegasus Health: Canterbury-region PHO supporting general practices and community health programmes in the South Island. Comparable to WRHN as a regional PHO operating subsidiary practices alongside population health services, with strong focus on long-term conditions management and equity.
• WellSouth Primary Health Network: Southern-most PHO serving Otago and Southland with general practice support, equity programmes, and rural health initiatives. Comparable to WRHN in rural primary care delivery, equity focus, and regional PHO structure.
• Health Hawke's Bay: PHO serving the Hawke's Bay region with an explicit focus on Māori health equity and integrated whānau-centred services. Third signatory of the 2024 tri-PHO Heads of Agreement with WRHN and THINK Hauora, sharing programme design and digital health initiatives across the central North Island.
• ProCare: Largest PHO in the Auckland region, supporting a network of general practices with community health programmes, equity initiatives, and digital infrastructure. Operates a similar PHO-plus-subsidiary-practice structure as WRHN, making it a comparable large-scale New Zealand primary care network.
• National Hauora Coalition: Māori-led PHO collective focused on whānau ora, equity, and integrated primary care for Māori and Pacific populations. Highly comparable to WRHN's Te Ao Māori-informed, equity-centred operating philosophy and iwi partnership model.
• THINK Hauora: Primary Health Organisation (PHO) serving the Manawatū, Horowhenua, and Ōtaki regions of New Zealand. WRHN's explicit collaboration partner under the August 2024 Heads of Agreement, sharing a long-term conditions app development and cross-regional equity-focused primary care delivery - making it the most directly comparable peer in scale, structure, and operating model.
• Te Awakairangi Health Network: Hutt Valley PHO operating general practices, kaupapa Māori services, and community health programmes. Structurally and operationally comparable to WRHN as a regional PHO with equity focus and whānau-centred service delivery.

Emerging players

• National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO): Australian peak body for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), which operate primary care clinics with indigenous-led, community-governed, equity-focused models analogous to WRHN's whānau-centred Māori health approach. Comparable as a thematically aligned, indigenous-led primary care framework outside New Zealand.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Whanganui_RHN
• Facebookfacebook.com/WhanganuiRegionalHealthNetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whanganui-regional-health-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/whanganui_rhn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Whanganui Regional Health Network