Public health nursing and screening — Rotorua and Taupō

The public health nursing and screening service offers a range of health and wellbeing services for tamariki (children) and their whānau (families) in Rotorua, Taupō and Tūrangi.

On this page

Contact us

Contact the service at:

Rotorua

Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm (closed public holidays)

Taupō

Monday to Thursday, 8am to 4:30pm (closed public holidays)

Where to find us

The district health nursing service is based at the:

Children's Health Hub

Rotorua Library

1127 Haupapa Street

Services we provide

The public health nursing and screening service works with tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau to promote health and provide support to improve wellbeing.

Our team includes:

  • public health nurses
  • vision and hearing technicians
  • immunisation facilitators
  • B4 School Check team
  • mobile ear van clinic.

Our services include:

  • assessing the health concerns of your school-aged tamaiti
  • help with health and development
  • support navigating health care and social services
  • linking families to other health professionals and services
  • working with families, teachers and schools to help ensure children are healthy and ready to learn
  • providing health information and advice
  • running immunisation programmes in schools
  • child advocacy.
Open all

Some of our public health nurses are qualified to give tuberculosis BCG vaccinations. 

If your pēpi is at risk of catching TB, talk to your midwife about them getting a BCG vaccine. 

Tuberculosis (TB) vaccine and when your baby might need one (internal link)

School Based Immunisation Programme

The School Based Immunisation Programme is run by public health nurses in schools in the Rotorua, Taupō and Tūrangi regions.

We provide education sessions to students being offered a vaccination. Consent forms with information about the vaccinations are sent home for the caregiver or legal guardian to complete and return to the school.

Vaccinations we offer:

  • Boostrix vaccine — for Year 7 students (11 years old) to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (pertussis), given in a single injection.
  • Gardasil 9 — for Year 8 girls and boys to protect against HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), given in two injections around 6 months apart.

For more information phone:

  • public health nurses on 07 343 7747
  • your medical centre
  • 0800 466 863 (0800 IMMUNE)
  • or visit the Immunisation Advisory Centre website.

Immunisation Advisory Centre (external link)

Vision and hearing screening

Our team of vision and hearing technicians run a screening service in:

  • early education centres
  • community clinics
  • people's homes.

Our services include:

  • vision and hearing screening of 4-year-olds as part of the B4 School Check
  • vision screening for all Year 7 students and colour vision checks of Year 7 boys
  • follow-up screening and referrals to optometrists, ophthalmologists, audiologists and the ear nurse service.

Ear nurse service (internal link)

We can check the hearing and vision of other school aged children, however if there are concerns it is recommended they see a specialist.

B4 School Checks are carried out by child health nurses.

In the Rotorua area, checks are made at:

  • Rotorua Plunket
  • Manaaki Ora
  • public health B4 School Check nurses.

In the Taupō, Tūrangi and Mangakino areas, the checks are carried out by practice nurses at your usual health centre.

The B4 School Check (internal link)

Referral information

We take referrals from:

  • parents and caregivers
  • schools and teachers
  • education services such as social workers in schools, RTLBs (resource teachers learning and behaviour)
  • health professionals.