A New Chapter for Takapūwāhia
Nau mai haere mai! Takapūwāhia Medical Centre is thriving with a full clinical team and is now welcoming new patient enrolments.
Established in 1990 as the Ora Toa Health Unit at Takapūwāhia Marae, the centre has proudly served the community for over 30 years and has called the former Porirua Museum building on Te Hiko Street home for over a decade.
After more than 18 months primarily delivering services via telehealth appointments, the centre now has five new doctors and a specialised nurse practitioner on board, expanding our ability to support the wider community.
We’re excited to welcome Dr Ingrid Liu to the team, and it’s wonderful to have Dr. Nikki de Vries and Dr Hohepa Cumming return to reconnect with the community they know so well.
The first of four Ora Toa medical centres, the historic Takapūwāhia centre is also reclaiming its role as a teaching and learning hub. Dr Fraser Peat is coming into his third year of registrar training and supports the practice one day a week. We will also host nursing students completing their practical placements throughout the year, further contributing to the growth of the future health workforce.
Currently the centre is proud to support Faye Skipworth in her first year of nursing, along with two nurse practitioner interns – Emma Tupangaia and Delisa Lesa – as they continue their clinical studies. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more about our new kaimahi, so keep an eye out on our pānui to get to know them better.
We acknowledge the leadership of Practice Manager Andrew Beban, who has guided the centre over the past 11 months and fostered a culture of collaborative growth grounded in respect and kotahitanga. True to his facilitative leadership style, he turns the spotlight back to the team:
“It’s the best team I’ve worked with – they are resilient, capable, and deeply committed to the mahi, working to provide the best support for whānau under our care. It’s incredible to see our community across Porirua encouraged to stay safe and well,” he says.
Steeped in te ao Māori, our services extend beyond clinical care to include holistic, kaupapa Māori-based programmes: kaumātua and rangatahi fitness groups, dedicated asthma support, hapū māmā services, and more.
While the medical centre operates separately from these community programmes, enrolling as a patient gives you access to all our services in a Mauriora way. Our on-site community gym (free for enrolled patients and iwi members), skilled kaimahi, and wraparound mental health and social support services ensure whānau feel seen, heard, and valued.
Enrol with us today and join a whānau-focused health journey. Ora Toa Medical Centres | Call 0800 ORA TOA
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