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Community and Public Health covers a large geographic area, made up of the following regions:
Canterbury (Christchurch)
Canterbury is a diverse region with the sea, plains and mountains, from Kaikoura in the north to the Rangitata River, and as far west as Arthur's Pass. The Christchurch office has to meet the needs of more than 420, 000 people.
Mid-Canterbury (Ashburton)
The Mid- Canterbury region lies between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, including the main township of Ashburton. Community and Public Health provides services to the more 27, 000 people of this area, and is based at the Ashburton Hospital site.
South-Canterbury (Timaru)
South Canterbury, with a population of 54,000, includes the Timaru, Waimate and Mackenzie Districts, between the Rangitata and Waitaki rivers. The population is predominately Pakeha with less than 20% of other ethnic backgrounds including 6% Maori, according to data from the 2006 Census. The region also has a higher percentage of older people (18%) than the national average. Nearly 1 in 3 people in South Canterbury live in rural areas, almost twice the level for the rest of New Zealand.
West Coast (Greymouth)
Just over 33,000 people live in the Buller, Grey and Westland Districts, a 400 km long region between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea. The region is one of the most sparsely populated regions in New Zealand. The remote nature of many small settlements poses specific health challenges (e.g. sewage treatment and disposal, and potable water for small isolated communities).
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