The medical vessel YWAM Koha departed Tauranga on Saturday, June 20, bound for Fiji where it will spend the next four months delivering healthcare services to some of the Pacific’s most remote island communities.

YWAM Ships Aotearoa managing director Marty Emmett said the mission will include nine weeks of structured health outreaches across Fiji’s four divisions.

The YWAM Koha departing Tauranga for Fiji on Saturday, June 20.

“Our goal is to deliver health and healing services to more than 4000 Fijians this year,” Emmett said.

The deployment follows an extensive refit earlier this year, with the vessel spending five weeks out of the water in Auckland undergoing maintenance and upgrades.

Work carried out by contractors, including Titan Marine Engineering and Super Yacht Coatings, included hull blasting and repainting, upgrades to onboard systems, and installation of a new generator.

The vessel has also been issued with a new five-year survey certificate.

Future proofing of the YWAM Koha at the Titan Marine slipway in Auckland.

Emmett said this was aimed at ensuring the ship’s long-term impact in the Pacific.

“The vision for those five months was to future-proof the vessel to maximise her impact for many years to come,” he said.

“We are deeply grateful for the faithful support that made this possible.”

The Koha returned to Tauranga in late May before preparing for its latest mission.

The YWAM Koha underwent extensive maintenance in Auckland.

Onboard crew and Fiji operations

There are currently 18 crew members aboard for the voyage to Fiji, with additional personnel set to join during outreach operations. The first major programme is scheduled to begin on July 4 on the island of Taveuni.

Health services being delivered from the ship include dental care, optometry, basic health checks, health education, and occupational therapy with the distribution of assistive devices.

A land-based clinic has already commenced this week in the Suva region, with teams expecting to assist several hundred people in its first week of operation.

The Fiji programme is delivered in partnership with the Fiji Ministry of Health, with a shared focus on improving access to healthcare in maritime and remote island communities.

A gift to the Pacific

The vessel was gifted to Tauranga-based charity YWAM Ships Aotearoa in 2019 by Stoney Creek Shipping and renamed Koha – the Māori word for gift – to reflect its purpose. Since 2021, its associated Trinity Koha Dental Clinic has also provided more than 5500 dental services in New Zealand.

The 2026 crew of the YWAM Koha before leaving Tauranga on Saturday, June 20, for Fiji.

In 2021, Trinity Koha Dental Clinic was launched, which has now served more than 5500 Kiwis in NZ.

The Fiji High Commissioner formally invited the organisation to deploy to Fiji, with the maiden medical voyage taking place in 2022.

In 2023, YSA signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Fiji Government, strengthening a long-term collaboration with the Fiji Ministry of Health.

Community support needed

Emmett said the organisation is continuing to rely on community support both in New Zealand and abroad.

YWAM Koha partnered with Engineers Without Borders New Zealand to deliver 77 water tanks to Niutao Island, ensuring water security for this community for years to come.

“First, pray for us. We need God’s help in all that we do,” he said.

“Second, a gift of $60 delivers one health service. That helps us serve thousands of people this year.”

With the vessel now back in active service following its refit, Emmett said the organisation’s focus is on sustained outreach across Fiji through to late October, intending to expand access to essential healthcare for remote communities across the Pacific.