Whakatāne's loss, Masterton's gain: The musical chairs of medical scanning

Whakatāne’s long-awaited promise of a local MRI scanner has instead found its way to Masterton, sparking frustration among residents who have endured years of uncertainty and repeated delays. After a prolonged effort to secure the equipment, the machine, originally intended for Whakatāne Hospital, has been relocated to Wairarapa Hospital in Masterton. This shift has left locals feeling let down, with many forced to continue making arduous journeys to Tauranga for essential medical scans. For years, residents of Whakatāne have faced the inconvenience of traveling approximately 180 kilometers to Tauranga to access one of the seven privately owned MRI scanners in the region. Despite promises from the government and ongoing advocacy efforts, the installation of a dedicated MRI unit at Whakatāne Hospital remained elusive. June Goodhew, an 85-year-old retired tutor, described the recent experience of being transported to Tauranga for an MRI after suffering from septicemia. She recounted the long, painful journey, including the logistical burden of arranging transport and the emotional toll on patients. “If Whakatāne had an MRI, they could have just gone down the hall,” she said, expressing deep disappointment over the continued lack of local services. The situation traces back to 2014, when Whakatāne Hospital received a $67 million upgrade, including the establishment of a modern radiology department. At the time, officials claimed the facility would provide high-quality healthcare to the surrounding 50,000 residents for years to come. However, despite these assurances, the hospital lacked an MRI scanner, leaving the community reliant on distant facilities. Frustrated by the absence of local services, residents launched campaigns demanding the installation of an MRI unit. Eventually, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora initiated discussions with Bay Radiology, a subsidiary of the national private provider RCHNZ Medical Imaging Group, to place an MRI machine in a newly designed unit at Whakatāne Hospital. Dr. Victor Luca, then mayor of Whakatāne, had anticipated the installation would occur by the end of 2024. He noted that the necessary planning had progressed significantly, with the building designed and preparations underway. However, the project stalled, and by early 2025, no progress had materialized. “Something went pear-shaped,” he remarked, describing the confusion and disillusionment among local leaders and residents alike. Recent developments revealed that the MRI machine, which had been stored in a crate at Port Tauranga for over a year, was ultimately moved to Masterton. Health New Zealand explained that the relocation followed the failure to reach a lease agreement with Bay Radiology. The decision was influenced by geological concerns, as authorities discovered that an earthquake faultline runs beneath parts of the hospital. This discovery, known since at least 2016, led to the designation of certain areas as unsuitable for new construction. As a result, the proposed site for the MRI unit became an exclusion zone, effectively halting the project. While Health New Zealand confirmed that the existing hospital structures were safe, the Whakatāne Action Group expressed skepticism over the agency’s ability to identify a viable alternative site earlier. Meanwhile, Bay Radiology has remained largely silent on the matter, offering only vague statements about its ongoing efforts to collaborate with Health New Zealand. The company stated its commitment to expanding diagnostic imaging services for the Eastern Bay communities, though it has not clarified whether the Masterton-based MRI will be utilized for local patients.