Healthpoint at the Collaborative Aotearoa Conference 2026

Healthpoint was proud to sponsor and attend the Collaborative Aotearoa Conference 2026, joining leaders and organisations from across the sector to explore the future of primary and community healthcare in Aotearoa.

This year’s conference centred on “Modernising Primary Health: Models of Care That Make a Difference”, bringing together a shared focus on equitable access, integrated models of care, and the role of digital in supporting better health outcomes for whānau.

Across the event, several key themes stood out for the Healthpoint team:

As Attendees

Some of the most powerful moments came from the Lived Experience stories woven through the conference programme. They grounded everything in reality and were a powerful reminder of why connected primary care services matter. It’s easy to get caught up in strategy and systems – these stories brought it back to people.

A clear and consistent theme across the conference was the role of AI in primary care. The conversation has shifted – AI is no longer a future concept, but something already in use across the sector.

Importantly, there was a strong emphasis on responsible and intentional use of AI, aligning closely with Healthpoint’s approach to design, data and digital infrastructure.

As a Sponsor & Exhibitor

We had great conversations with people from right across the sector. What struck us was how much common ground there was – similar values, similar ambitions, and a genuine shared commitment to their communities.

Despite ongoing pressures in the sector, there was a strong sense of alignment. The overall sentiment was forward-looking and solutions-focused, with a collective drive to make meaningful progress.

As Presenters

Healthpoint’s Rhonda Dames and Belinda Allen also presented at the conference, sharing insights on “Empowering Whānau Through Accessible Health Information: A Proactive Care Approach.”

Their presentation focused on three key ideas:

1. Clear service information is a care intervention
When whānau can’t easily find the right service, the impact is felt across the system – from missed access to increased pressure on front-line teams.

2. Integrated care depends on visibility and consistency
If your service information isn’t consistent and visible, the gaps show up in your waiting room. This connected the systemic integration challenge to something every primary care team experiences firsthand.

3. Digital visibility is now critical to equity
As AI changes how people search for care, ensuring services are visible where whānau are looking is essential to supporting equitable access. This landed well as the world moves from Search Engine Optimisation to Answer Engine Optimisation, tying digital discovery directly to health equity.

Looking Ahead

Healthpoint extends a sincere thank you to Collaborative Aotearoa for hosting such a thoughtful and energising event, and to all those who contributed to the conversations.

We also acknowledge the organisations involved across the programme, including Health New Zealand and The Kind Foundation.

Events like the Collaborative Aotearoa Conference highlight the importance of connection – between people, services and systems – and reinforce the role we all play in improving access to care across Aotearoa.