The wait to see a doctor in Kawerau will be shortened immensely with the opening of a new medical centre in Kawerau under Dr Emily Hermanson of Ngāti Porou.
However, the reaction from the community has been mixed, with some alleging that this centre is only for Māori, but that's not the case at all.
The grand opening will take place this Friday, and the owners hope New Zealander of the year, Dr Lance O'Sullivan, will attend.
Dr Emily Hermanson states, "We are going to change the way we see patients and adopting his style of seeing patients at his practices which is all about removing barriers and making it easy for people to see the GP.”
The Kawerau Medical Centre will be up and running by Tuesday next week.