The first few journeys of the newly established Waka Manaaki - East Coast Health Shuttle have been awesome, says Ngāti Porou Oranga health director Sonya Smith.
The service, funded as a pilot through Te Whatu Ora until December, is for anyone in the East Coast who needs to get to a health-related appointment in Gisborne city.
The waka travels to Gisborne and back to Ruatōrea on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The scheduled times for the shuttle are 7.30am pick-up at the Ruatōrea Clinic; 8.10am at Te Puia Springs Hospital; 8.25am at Tokomaru Bay Clinic; 9am at Te Whare Hauora o Te Aitanga a Hauiti in Uawa/Tolaga Bay; and 10am at Gisborne Hospital.
It departs for the Coast at 3pm from Gisborne Hospital’s main entrance and arrives back at the Ruatōrea clinic at 5.30pm.
Bookings for the shuttle are essential.
Ring 0800-777-078.