RNZ
Recently, the offer of free dental treatment in the Whanganui/Ruapehu region attracted hundreds of people – and highlighted how difficult it is for people living in rural or remote communities to access care.
Volunteer dentists in the iwi-led, hauora Māori initiative saw nearly 400 people, and a dentist at an Ohakune clinic treated 100 people, extracted 125 teeth and filled 40 teeth.
And, for the first time in eight years, Great Barrier Island will have a visiting dentist, which means people who can’t afford to fly to Auckland will now have the chance to seek treatment.