Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages
We prepare future healthcare professionals through health education, clinical training, and partnerships that support New Zealand's health workforce.
We work with healthcare providers, researchers, and communities to improve health services, address workforce shortages, and support better health outcomes.
We promote physical and mental wellbeing through community health initiatives, research, and support services for our staff and students.
In 2025, 8.8% of our graduates were in health professions.
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proportion of graduates in health professions | 10.1% | 9.9% | 8.8% |
The University of Waikato collaborates with local, national and international health institutions to strengthen healthcare services, develop the health workforce and improve health outcomes, particularly for rural and regional communities.
The University has partnered with three Waikato-based Primary Health Organisations, Pinnacle Incorporated, Hauraki PHO and National Hauora Coalition, through a Memorandum of Understanding to address primary care workforce shortages (opens in a new tab). The partnership aims to establish a regional network of clinical training facilities, support interprofessional placements across primary care professions, and develop collaboration in primary care research. These activities are intended to strengthen the healthcare workforce and support fairer health outcomes for rural and regional communities.
The University's Medical Research Centre (opens in a new tab) works with Waikato District Health Board and healthcare professionals on research addressing health issues affecting the Waikato region and beyond. Its work includes cancer epidemiology with Waikato Hospital specialists, research into primary care and rural health, and diabetes research conducted in collaboration with local general practices. The Centre's primary care research programme (opens in a new tab) examines chronic disease management, primary care services and workforce issues to help inform improvements in healthcare delivery.
The University also works with the Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network (opens in a new tab) on rural health education, research and healthcare access. University researchers presented collaborative projects at the National Rural Health Conference in 2025, contributing to discussions on rural healthcare challenges and ways to improve health outcomes for underserved communities.
The University of Waikato is establishing the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine through partnerships with government agencies, universities, hospitals and regional healthcare providers to address doctor shortages, particularly in rural and regional communities.
Following its initial agreement with the Ministry of Health, the University has partnered with the University of Wollongong (opens in a new tab) to develop the new curriculum and is using expert advice from the university’s Medical Advisory Board (opens in a new tab) to guide the establishment of the School. A distributed clinical placement network (opens in a new tab) involving Health New Zealand, the Ministry of Health and the Universities of Waikato, Auckland and Otago has been confirmed, with students expected to train in hospitals, general practices and community health settings across five regions.
These collaborations aim to strengthen New Zealand's medical workforce and improve access to healthcare in underserved communities.
The University collaborates with Hiroshima University in Japan through an ongoing research partnership (opens in a new tab) examining healthcare delivery, rural and ageing communities, emergency response and health equity. Researchers from both universities have undertaken reciprocal visits to share insights into their respective health systems and identify lessons that could inform policy and improve healthcare delivery. The collaboration focuses on developing more equitable and resilient health systems that respond to the needs of rural and Indigenous communities.
The University has established a partnership with Whanganui District Council, Health New Zealand, Whanganui Regional Health Network, and Te Ranga Tupua Iwi Collective (opens in a new tab) to explore opportunities for medical students to train in Whanganui and surrounding regions. The collaboration aims to strengthen the regional health workforce by expanding opportunities for clinical training in communities facing medical workforce shortages.
Through these partnerships, the University works with healthcare providers, research institutions and universities to address workforce shortages, advance clinical and community health research, and improve access to healthcare and health outcomes.
The University of Waikato supports community health and wellbeing through programmes addressing physical health, disease prevention and mental wellbeing. Through the Kimi Ora lifestyle programme (opens in a new tab), researchers worked with Māori healthcare providers and communities to deliver a whānau-centred intervention for people affected by diabetes or pre-diabetes. The programme combined lifestyle education and community support, with evaluations reporting improvements in measures including weight, blood pressure and waist circumference. The University also contributes to culturally responsive mental health initiatives through Ūloa in Action (opens in a new tab), a project developed with Pacific communities and Moana Connect to improve mental health support for Pacific families. In addition, the University's Sport and Human Movement Research (opens in a new tab) supports work in physical literacy and physical activity, promoting movement and healthier lifestyles. These initiatives demonstrate the University's contribution to health promotion and community wellbeing, with a focus on culturally responsive approaches and the needs of local communities.
The University of Waikato Adams Centre for High Performance (opens in a new tab) is a cutting-edge facility based at Mt Maunganui’s Blake Park, equipped with the latest in sports science and research capability. It is a valuable resource for many of our biomechanists and other academics working with elite sportspeople from around the country.
The University of Waikato supports the mental health and wellbeing of its staff and students through dedicated counselling and support services. Staff can access free, confidential counselling through the University's Employee Assistance Programme (opens in a new tab) (EAP), which helps employees and their families manage personal difficulties that may affect their wellbeing at work or home.
Students can access mental health support through the University's Student Health and mental health services (opens in a new tab), which provide assistance with challenges such as anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties and study-related stress. These services give both staff and students access to support for personal and emotional challenges, helping maintain their mental health and overall wellbeing.
Waikato psychologists report a connection between students’ interpretation of a university taking sustainability seriously and improved student wellbeing, as outlined in their study on sustainability and student health (opens in a new tab). The findings support the connection between SDG3: Good Health and Wellbeing, and the environmental SDGs 11–15, and show that even a small investment in bike storage facilities can promote sustainable practices and improve student health.
Born in Aussie or NZ, playing for the Pacific: the startling demographics of the Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup highlights the strong influence of Pacific heritage, with many players born in Australia or New Zealand choosing to represent their ancestral homelands.
Waikato scientists work towards Covid-19-style test for gonorrhoea
A University of Waikato research project has received funding to develop a rapid, low-cost gonorrhoea test that could improve early detection, access to healthcare and more targeted antibiotic use.
NZ has retreated from global cooperation on health security. Can a new government change course?
New Zealand's retreat from global health cooperation raises concerns about pandemic preparedness and international health security, prompting calls for renewed commitment from future governments.
University of Waikato's dogs trained to sniff out parasitic disease
Researchers are training scent-detection dogs to sniff out a parasitic disease, exploring a faster, non-invasive screening method that could improve global health outcomes.
The ageing terraces: are our major events ready for an older New Zealand?
As New Zealand’s population ages, are our major events keeping up? Dr Samantha Heath argues stadium access must extend beyond the gates to ensure older fans can enjoy a night out.
GPs can now prescribe ADHD medication – but big barriers to treatment remain
GPs can now prescribe ADHD medication in New Zealand, improving access to treatment, but significant barriers to diagnosis, affordability and ongoing care remain.
Brainwaves: Targeting a new weak spot in drug-resistant gonorrhoea
The bacterium that causes gonorrhoea has developed resistance to almost every antibiotic used against it. University of Waikato postdoctoral fellow, Dr Keely Oldham is looking for new ways to fight back.
Fit, thin, curvy and toned: the contradictory body ideals young NZ women face online
Young women in a new study described feeling unable to escape online pressure to improve their appearance and their lives, even when they recognised its harm.
Why do some robots feel creepy? We deliberately built one to find out
University of Waikato researchers deliberately designed a creepy robot to explore why some machines unsettle us, revealing how appearance and behaviour shape our comfort and interactions with robots.
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