Health Partners

Dargaville Medical Centre work collaboratively with many other local Health Providers and Business in the Kaipara District . More information can be had by contacting them directly.

Northland DHB
Te Ha Oranga
Hospice Kaipara
Kaipara Community Health Trust
Unichem Orrs Pharmacy Dargaville


Northland DHB

Northland DHB is categorised as a Crown Agent under section 7 of the Crown Entities Act 2004. Responsible for providing or funding health and disability services for the people of Northland, the DHB covers a large geographical area from Te Hana in the south to Cape Reinga in the north.

The DHB employs 3,086 staff. Acute services are provided through the DHB’s four hospitals, based at Whangarei, Dargaville, Kawakawa and Kaitaia, with elective surgery performed at Whangarei and Kaitaia. These services are supplemented by a network of community-based, outpatient and mental health services, a range of allied health services, and a public and population health unit. Some specialist services, like radiation treatment and neurology services are provided from Auckland or through visiting specialists travelling to Northland.

The DHB allocates funding across the health sector in Northland, contracting with a range of community-based service providers such as Mahitahi Hauora, our single Primary Health Entity, dentists, pharmacies and other non-government organisations.


Te Ha Oranga

Te Hā Oranga was established in the early 1990s, with the support of the Northern Regional Health Authority, as an iwi endorsed and owned health service provider that operates under the tikanga of Ngati Whatua . The objective was to set up a kaupapa Māori, iwi endorsed provider that was able to implement Te Rūnanga O Ngāti Whātua hauora obligations. This continues to be our objective today.

Te Hā Oranga uphold mana whenua led obligations:

Mana Ngati Whatua
Tū Tonu ngā Manaakitanga – This whakatauākī represents the obligation to manaakitanga, or care for and support for people, as an exaltation to hold fast to this obligation. Kaitiakitanga


Hospice Kaipara

Hospice Kaipara serves the north west Kaipara District covering from the Waipoua Forest in the north, Paparoa in the south east, Tangiteroria in the east and Pouto in the south west – and everywhere in between.

Hospice Kaipara provides home based support and clinical care for patients and their family/whanau that require specialist input to help manage their life limiting illness.  We work with other health providers (such as GPs, DHB staff, Iwi providers, pharmacists).  Services include:

  • Symptom management – nursing and specialist doctor care

  • Specialist loan equipment and supplies

  • Counselling/Bereavement support

  • Volunteer support

  • Life Reflection service

  • Complimentary therapy

  • Kowhai Room (Dargaville Hospital)

  • Books and resources


Kaipara Community Health Trust

KCHT was formed when local health services where threatened in 1993

The Dargaville Community was outraged when the Government announced in 1993/94 that they were going to close the Dargaville hospital and centralise health services to Whangarei. 

The ‘Save the Hospital committee’ was formed and over 70 public meetings held – the Dargaville Town Hall overflowed with local support. The outcome – Dargaville received a $1.9m government grant (suspensory loan). 

The ‘Save the Hospital Committee’ became a legal entity to be known as the ‘Kaipara Community Health Trust’ (KCHT).

The Trust Deed requires that the twelve Trustees, on behalf of their community be the ‘guardian’ for health services, and to act in a manner that enhances and retains quality health services locally for our communities to access.

The Kaipara Community Health Trust has a Charity Entity Status Registration (CC20458, dated 2008) previously having been an Incorporated Society (817408, dated 24 July 1996).
The government grant enabled the community to purchase a 46% share in the hospital site creating a joint venture with the Northland District Health Board.  The grant was used to refurbish parts of the hospital and to build an extension to house the Dargaville Medical Centre.

We lost surgical services but we created a centre that offers effectively coordinated health services locally.
We continue as guardians of our hospital and protect access to healthcare services for our community.