Hato Hone St John has gained a new set of wheels to continue improving health access for the community.
The Mackay Strathnaver Trust has donated a new Waka Ora Health Shuttle to the St John Mount Maunganui station.
Hato Hone St John dignitaries, operations staff, and Mackay Strathnaver Trust representatives attended a vehicle dedication ceremony on Wednesday, September 9, at the Tauranga ambulance station.
St John community transport manager Leigh Herewini said the additional vehicle will “provide reliable and safe transport to and from health appointments”.
Waka Ora symbolises a “vehicle to help with the wellbeing of our people, our communities,” said Herewini. “It’s a way we can support communities to look after themselves, to remain independent.”
Mackay Strathnaver Trust gifted the first Tauranga health shuttle to Hato Hone St John in 1999 and had since supported the organisation with donations.
Tauranga St John Area Committee’s Steve Walker and Viv Pill from the Mackay Strathnaver Trust with Hato Hone St John’s new Waka Ora Health Shuttle. Photo / Brydie Thompson
The trust previously donated additional emergency resources, including a purpose-built Polaris vehicle for Hato Hone St John’s Event Health Services (EHS), major incident equipment, and multiple Lifepak cardiac monitors.
“You can see the passion and sense of community at Hato Hone St John. It’s a good relationship,” said Andree Withington of Mackay Strathnaver Trust.
Two health shuttles already service Tauranga Monday to Friday, both of which are accessible for wheelchairs. One vehicle is based at the Tauranga station and the other in Mount Maunganui
A network of 30 volunteers runs the Waka Ora Health Shuttle service, offering reliable access to transport and connecting members of the public to healthcare.
Hato Hone St John Bay of Plenty district operations manager Jeremy Gooders said: “Without a stable volunteer workforce of operators, we couldn’t run the shuttle reliably for people”.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have community-minded people who give their time to train up and be shuttle operators.”
Hato Hone St John dignitaries, operations staff, and Mackay Strathnaver Trust representatives check out the new Waka Ora Health Shuttle. Photo / Brydie Thompson
From July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, the Tauranga team fulfilled about 3826 trips for more than 700 patients. The age of these patients ranged from 25 to 90-plus.
The volunteer team gave more than 5000 collective hours of their personal time and travelled more than 56,000km.
Bookings for the Waka Ora Health Shuttle service can be made online or by phoning 0800 824 325.