Lakes District Health Board

Lakes District Health Board serves a population of just over 100,000 and covers 9,570 square kilometres.  It stretches from Mourea in the north to Mangakino in the west down to Turangi in the south and across to Kaingaroa village in the east.  The major centres of population are Rotorua and Taupo and the main smaller communities are Mangakino and Turangi.  The DHB boundaries take in the two main iwi groups of Te Arawa and Ngati Tuwharetoa.

Lakes DHB is responsible for the provision (or funding the provision) of the majority of health services in the Lakes district.  These services district include:

Two hospital sites (Rotorua and Taupo)

Nine continuing care facilities – in addition one Hospital Specialist Services – Psychogeriatric Unit

One mental health inpatient facility

Four community bases for mental health (iCAMHS (Infant, Child and Adolescent): Adult community at Rotorua and Taupo; and Mental Health Service for Older People Rotorua

Rotorua Hospital – This is the main hospital for the Lakes DHB and provides all major services encompassing 24/7 Emergency Department, ICU,Childrens health, Maternity, Surgical, Medical, Geriatric and Mental health

Taupo Hospital is situated in a residential area of Taupo. It has a 24/7 Emergency department, Inpatient Unit, Day Unit and Theatre, outpatient clinics by medical consultants and visiting specialists, Maternity Unit, Pharmacy, Clinical Records, Radiology

Lifestyle

Rotorua is a multi-cultural district of 78,900. This includes 68,900 residents and 10,000 daily visitors. The resident population is projected to grow to 74,000 people by 2016. The major ethnic groups are European (72%), Maori (36%), Pacific Islands (4%) and Asian (3%). An international tourism icon, Rotorua is renowned as the heartland of Maori culture.

Rotorua city is renowned for its geothermal activity.  It is located just under three hours drive south of Auckland, which has all the facilities of a city of a million people.

Rotorua has several lakes within a 20 minute drive from the centre of the city.

It is also centrally situated to beaches on both coasts of New Zealand – being a 45 minute drive from some of the country’s most popular east coast beaches and approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours drive from some west coast beaches.

Some of New Zealand’s best ski fields are only 2 hours drive away and other recreational facilities in towns such as Hamilton and Tauranga, are also close to Rotorua.

Rotorua provides scenic walksbeautiful forestsmountain biking, golfing opportunities, some of the best fishing in NZ and many other various activities surrounding the lakes and the geothermal activity.

Food lovers – Rotorua has a great cafe scene with other fine restaurants and drinking establishments.  There is a full array of international foods and dishes at the various restaurants as well as local and New Zealand cuisine.

Taupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand.

Taupo has a population of 23,400 It is the 20th largest urban area in New Zealand.

Lake Taupo, surrounded by beautiful forests, volcanic mountains and snowy peaks in winter is a hub for events and activities year round.

The Great Lake Taupo region is undoubtedly one of the world’s most unique and picturesque areas. This popular tourist destination boasts the largest freshwater lake in Australasia, and our mountains are internationally renowned.

They form part of the dual World Heritage area of Tongariro National Park, and Mt Ngauruhoe featured as the ominous Mount Doom in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The active volcanic and geothermal region of Great Lake Taupo is a sporting mecca and nature-lover’s paradise, especially for boaties and those keen on trout fishing. There are many activities centered on and around Lake Taupo and the numerous tributaries that feed into it.

World-class trout fishing, scenic cruises, kayaking, sailing, white water rafting, wakeboarding and summer time swimming are all popular with locals and visitors alike. The Great Lake Taupo area really is nature’s ultimate playground.