Costly Commutes and Nursing "Superheroes": The Struggle for Healthcare on Rakiura

Rakiura residents face expensive mainland medical trips and a lack of GPs. Health NZ is reviewing island care after a 2025 incident left the island without any nurses for three days.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 15, 2026, 4:30 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The High Price of a Check-up

For Rakiura residents, a routine doctor's visit is neither quick nor affordable. Because there is no GP on the island, patients must travel to Bluff or Invercargill, a journey that involves:

Transport Costs: Return flights or ferry trips costing hundreds of dollars.

Time Loss: A minimum of one full day away from work and family.

Logistical Risks: Weather disruptions can cancel transport, while mainland clinic delays can cause patients to miss their return flights, requiring expensive overnight stays.

Resident Angela Karaitiana told RNZ that the logistics are a constant "pain," citing instances where clinic delays in Invercargill nearly stranded her family on the mainland. Shona Sangster added that mainland GP shortages mean wait times can be as long as six weeks; if weather prevents travel on the day of the appointment, the wait reset begins.