NZ Telehealth Forum & Resource Centre

27/08/2026

For 13 years, Dr Ruth Large has dedicated her time, insight, energy and leadership to the NZ Telehealth Forum, helping shape it into a trusted and respected voice for equity, digital health and better patient care across Aotearoa.

She has been a passionate champion for telehealth, connecting people from across the sector and creating a network where ideas are shared, relationships are built, and positive change can happen. Through periods of growth, change and uncertainty, she has helped keep the Forum moving forward, ensuring it remained a trusted space for collaboration, learning and advocacy. The Forum we know today is a reflection of the vision and determination Ruth has brought to the role over many years.

With funding reinstated and strong support behind the Forum, we're entering an exciting new chapter. The momentum we feel today is built on the foundations Ruth has helped create over the past 13 years, and we're excited to continue building on that legacy together.

On behalf of everyone at Mobile Health Group and the NZ Telehealth Forum, thank you for your leadership, wisdom and the countless hours, energy and care you've invested in the Forum and its members.

Congratulations on 13 remarkable years. We look forward to continuing this journey together 💪👏

12/08/2026

𝗡𝗭 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 – 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲

A huge thank you to Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora for confirming 12 months of funding for the Forum. This funding enables us to keep advancing telehealth across Aotearoa.

As a result of the funding, the Forum welcomes Jess Morgan-French as our new Programme Manager. Many of you will know Jess from her time with GPNZ and Collaborative Aotearoa. Jess started with the Forum last week. Welcome aboard, Jess!



Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora
Collaborative Aotearoa
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP)

22/07/2026

𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀
https://www.telehealth.org.nz/webinars

Thank you to everyone who tuned in to this webinar! A huge thank you to our guest speakers: Dr Kendall Ho, Dr James Marcin, Dr John Pawlovich and Dr Inga Hunter. We greatly appreciate your willingness to join us from across the globe and contribute to such a valuable discussion. We hope you enjoyed your time with us as much as we enjoyed having you, and we look forward to welcoming you back again in the future.

If you have a webinar topic suggestion, please email [email protected].

21/06/2026

// 𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟴 𝗝𝗨𝗟𝗬 𝟭𝟮.𝟯𝟬𝗣𝗠 - 𝟭.𝟯𝟬𝗣𝗠

Our first telehealth webinar of the year is just around the corner. Grab your coffee and join us online as we discuss what it takes to deliver a virtual hospital. Featuring guest speakers from the 2026 Telehealth Symposium held earlier this year, get your questions answered!

🗓️ Date: Wednesday 8 July
⏰ Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm
💻 Secure your spot here: https://mobilehealth.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ULhawikkR3eznFQO2ZDiuA #/

Before we meet online, head over to our website to check out our latest document 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: https://www.telehealth.org.nz/2026-symposium

02/04/2026

// IN THE NEWS - Dr Ruth Large "Telehealth is not the point"

In her latest piece for HiNZ, Ruth Large challenges the industry to move beyond just the technology, arguing that "telehealth is not the point"— the real transformation lies in redesigning our models of care. True capacity gains aren't achieved by simply putting a clinician behind a screen; they require intentional service redesign, such as virtual hospitals and integrated pathways, to turn digital tools into force multipliers. By shifting the focus from platforms to clinical governance and workforce design, we can move toward a "care without walls" approach that is truly sustainable and equitable.

Read the article here: https://www.hinz.org.nz/news/724693/My-View---Telehealth-is-not-the-point-.htm

15/01/2026

Strong global perspectives, grounded in local reality. We were pleased to help organise and facilitate these conversations. Thank you to Ruth Large and everyone who contributed their time and expertise as speakers, facilitators and hosts.

This week, over 100 health leaders came together to explore what virtual healthcare could look like for Aotearoa.

Clinicians, system leaders and digital health specialists from New Zealand and around the world shared what’s working, what’s shifting, and where the real opportunities sit as pressure on health systems continues to grow.

Some of the numbers that sparked conversation:
→ British Columbia’s (Canada) 811 service has supported 1.7 million people while reducing emergency department demand
→ Northern Region’s Hospital in the Home programme has cared for 20,000 people at home, saving $2.7m
→ BC’s Rural Virtual Support programme has saved $76m in medical travel and kept rural EDs open
→ NSW’s Single Front Door reduced ED referrals from 60% to 20%

We’re seeing similar patterns locally.

At Whakarongorau, 61% of mental health contacts now come through digital channels, not because we pushed it, but because that’s where people feel comfortable reaching out.

We’re resolving 75% of mental health needs on first contact and supporting 1 in 5 New Zealanders to get the right care, right away.

The kōrero didn’t shy away from the hard parts either. Workforce pressure, clinical change, funding models and scaling safely remain real challenges across every system represented.

Day two shifted into co-design, with 103 participants working across six groups on practical challenges including clinical workflows, cultural safety, technology, workforce capability and evaluation.

As one presenter put it, this work is “just the tip of the iceberg.”

Pictured here is around half of the attendees who joined us across the two days.

Thanks to those who supported us: Health Informatics New Zealand, NZ Telehealth Forum & Resource Centre, Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, and Spark Health for making this happen.