The Government says new doctors will be trained in the regions that need them most, through the University of Waikato’s New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine.
The new medical school is expected to open applications in mid-2027, with its first intake of 120 students starting in 2028. Students will complete their first year at the university’s Hamilton campus before spending years two to four in regional communities across Aotearoa.
The programme is focused on primary care and rural health, with clinical placements planned in regional hospitals, general practices, acute care services and community health providers.
Supporters say the model is designed to grow a health workforce that is more likely to stay and work in rural and regional communities, where whānau often face long waits, travel barriers and shortages of doctors.
The University of Waikato says the graduate-entry programme will also prioritise applicants who are community-minded and committed to primary care, rural health, Māori, Pacific and under-represented communities.
The Government has previously announced $82.85 million in funding for the school, alongside more than $150 million from the university and philanthropic investment.
While the new school has been welcomed by rural health advocates, debate continues over whether expanding existing medical schools at Auckland and Otago would have been a faster or more cost-effective option.
For whānau in underserved regions, the key test will be whether the new training pathway delivers more doctors into the communities carrying the heaviest health burden.
