Exploring Healthcare Solutions
Raetihi could become home to one of Aotearoa’s most affordable and community-led health services, a model that puts people, not profit, at the heart of care.
Pictured above: Dr Praveen Thadigiri.
Living Waters Medical will host a Hui Hapori on Monday, November 17, from 10am to 12pm at the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua offices, 28 Queen Street, Raetihi.
Conversations are underway that could pave the way for improved healthcare access for whānau across the rohe, following a visit from Living Waters Medical to Raetihi in August.
On August 15, Dr Praveen Thadigiri, a vocationally registered General Practitioner and founder of Living Waters, met with the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust Board to discuss how his organisation could help bridge the healthcare and pharmaceutical access gap for Raetihi and surrounding rural communities. He was accompanied by Living Waters CEO Kylie Wagstaff and Clinic Coordinator Robyn Poutini.
Dr Thadigiri shared Living Waters’ journey, from humble beginnings in Castlecliff, Whanganui, to now operating multiple clinics across high-needs areas including Whanganui East, Rānana, and Palmerston North. His model focuses on providing low-cost, community-centred healthcare in places where mainstream medical services are often hard to access.
“We go where the need is greatest,” said Dr Thadigiri.
“Our clinics are based in communities others often overlook, places where access is limited, but the need for care is high.”
At the hui, Dr Thadigiri spoke candidly about the challenges of working within New Zealand’s healthcare system, noting that barriers often arise for practitioners who don’t “fit the norm.” Despite this, he said Living Waters continues to grow by focusing on people, not bureaucracy.
The trust board heard how Living Waters currently operates a very low-cost access (VLCA) model, charging just $20 for Community Services Card holders and $30.50 for others, and aims to eventually provide free healthcare within a year of establishing a sustainable model.
In New Zealand, VLCA stands for Very Low Cost Access, it’s a funding model for general practices (GP clinics) aimed at improving access to healthcare for high-needs populations.
“I believe healthcare can be provided at no cost,” Dr Thadigiri said.
“It’s about running a lean, community-driven operation where the focus is on patients, not profit.”
The discussion also explored the possibility of setting up a clinic in Raetihi, using local facilities rather than taking on large financial burdens like property ownership. This approach, Dr Thadigiri said, would help keep costs down and make services sustainable long term.
Trust board members and community representatives discussed the need for accessible services, including on-site pharmaceutical dispensing, telehealth, and regular GP or nurse practitioner visits.
“We’ve got kaumātua and whānau who struggle to travel for basic care or prescriptions,” Trustee Baldy (Paora) Haitana said.
“A one-stop clinic here would make a real difference.”
Pictured above: Dr Praveen Thadigiri with Koro Baldy (Paora) Haitana - Trustee.
Living Waters’ model also supports integrated and holistic care, welcoming the inclusion of traditional healing and alternative medicine alongside mainstream practice.
“We want to open doors to all forms of healing,” said Dr Thadigiri.
“Every culture has its own medicines and wisdom. We should make space for that.”
Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Chair Aiden Gilbert said the kōrero was an important first step toward exploring practical healthcare options for the district.
“Given the current government has not met our healthcare needs, the Trust is open to any avenue that would give our whānau the access they so desperately need,” Gilbert said.
“This kaupapa is about our people. We’re not just talking about healthcare, we’re talking about mana motuhake, about taking back responsibility for the wellbeing of our whānau and communities.”
As a next step, Living Waters Medical will host a Hui Hapori
When: Monday, November 17, 10am to 12pm
Where: Te Korowai o Wainuiārua offices, 28 Queen Street, Raetihi.
The hui will be an opportunity for whānau to share their experiences and aspirations for future healthcare in the rohe.
If the discussions progress, Raetihi could become home to one of Aotearoa’s most affordable and community-led health services, a model that puts people, not profit, at the heart of care.
Pictured above from left: Dr Praveen Thadigiri, our Trustee Marilyn Kairimu, Living Waters CEO Kylie Wagstaff and Clinic Coordinator Robyn Poutini. A huge thanks to our trustee Marilyn Kairimu who was instrumental in connecting Living Waters with Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Trust.
