Tongan Health Society Signs Landmark Agreement to Redefine Aged and Primary Care in New Zealand

In a major development set to transform aged and community healthcare in Aotearoa, the Tongan Health Society Incorporated (Langimālie) has entered into a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a private sector organisation to jointly develop and deliver integrated general practice, hospital-level, and aged residential care services grounded in cultural responsiveness, dignity and equity.

The name of the private sector partner is being withheld at this time due to commercial sensitivity and competitive considerations. Both parties have agreed to release further details during the implementation phase to ensure alignment with strategic planning and partner obligations.

Endorsed by the Tongan Health Society Board on 10 February 2025, the agreement represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration in New Zealand, bringing together purpose-built aged care infrastructure with Pacific-led, community-rooted primary care. The model integrates clinical excellence with cultural insight and is set to be rolled out across multiple Auckland regions, including East, South, West, and Central Auckland.

“This is more than a healthcare initiative—it’s a bold new standard for how we deliver care with dignity and cultural integrity,” said Dr. Glenn Doherty, CEO and Clinical Director of the Tongan Health Society. “The integration of a medical centre into a hybrid hospital and rest home facility, set to begin in East Auckland in March 2026, is unlike anything currently in place in Aotearoa.”

The collaboration combines the development and infrastructure expertise of the private sector with Langimālie’s leadership in Pacific health, general practice, and Whānau Ora navigation. Joint service planning is already underway across the Auckland region, with a business case progressing for a new medical centre in Central Auckland.

A key milestone was achieved this week, with the Tongan Health Society assuming clinical responsibility for an aged care facility in South Auckland. Many residents are of Pacific descent and are now being assessed for Whānau Ora support and culturally grounded clinical care.

The MOU reflects a shared commitment to service innovation, high-quality care, regulatory compliance, and health equity. It also establishes an exclusive joint partnership model that responds directly to the changing demographic and cultural needs of aged care in New Zealand.

For both organisations, this collaboration signals a step forward in system-wide redesign—putting Pacific leadership at the centre of aged and primary care integration and offering a scalable model with national relevance.