About Us

At the Heart of Rotorua's Healthcare

Rotorua Area Primary Health Services (RAPHS) is a community based not-for-profit clinical network. We have been committed to improving health and wellbeing in the Rotorua region for over 30 years.

A group of forward-thinking providers in the Rotorua community first established our organisation in 1991.

Today, RAPHS is Rotorua's Primary Health Organisation (PHO). As a PHO, we support a range of clinical programmes for our community, and provide business, administrative and technology support for our member providers and partner organisations.

We work closely with healthcare teams who provide health services to about 71,000 people in the Rotorua city and rural areas.

For more information on our providers, and to find out how to enrol, click here.

Our People

RAPHS is governed by a board of directors led by our chair Dr Genevieve Matthews. Board members are health professionals working within the Rotorua community and also includes an independent director.

Chief Executive Officer, Kirsten Stone, leads a senior leadership team and around 45 full and part-time staff. Our staff bring to the team a mix of experience and skills from community, clinical, IT, research and business backgrounds.

Our offices are based in central Rotorua.

RAPHS Annual Report

Read more about our community, our objectives and practice network achievements in our Annual Report.

RAPHS Annual Report and Statement of Performance 2022 to 2023

What is a PHO?

Rotorua Area Primary Health Services (RAPHS) is a Primary Health Organisation (PHO).

PHOs are not for profit organisations that receive funding from Te Whatu Ora to provide and support primary health care services. PHOs work with a network of primary care teams and other health and social care professionals in their community.

RAPHS health provider members

Provide primary health care to around 71,000 people in the Rotorua area
Assist patients to access hospital and specialist care, if and when it is needed
Work to improve the health of people in the community with health promotions, screening programmes, vaccinations and other services.

What is Primary Health Care?

In New Zealand, we follow an international system where healthcare is described as

Primary healthcare – services provided by doctors and other health professionals in the community
Secondary healthcare – services provided by hospitals
Tertiary healthcare – specialist services

The term primary health care includes the care given by doctors and nurses in general practices when you are sick or need a check-up.

Promote healthy living – exercise and eating well
Prevent diseases and injuries – check-ups, screening and immunisations
Provide rehabilitation – help after someone recover from an illness or after an accident

A primary health care provider is usually a patient’s first point of contact with the health system – unless it is an emergency.