Nelson Weekly Locally Owned and Operated
Wednesday 20 March 2024
Double dose of brass
International cricket returns Page 23
Page 15
GP crisis: Clinics close or merge KATE RUSSELL A lack of funding and staffing is being felt across Nelson’s general practice system, with some clinics either closing or merging. Toi Toi Medical has permanently
closed its Stoke clinic, citing “significant staff shortages, difficulty recruiting, and ever-increasing outgoings”. “This difficult decision has not been made lightly and reflects the current challenges facing general
practice in New Zealand,” they said in a recent statement. Full medical services will remain available at their Natalie St clinic in Nelson, and they have also engaged with other general practices, such as Stoke Medical, who
are enrolling in the Stoke community. Nelson Bays Primary Health chief executive Sara Shaughnessy says the closure highlights the current primary health environment with “growing costs and stagnant
funding that is no longer fit for purpose”. While one clinic has closed, others have merged. South Link Health, which has
SEE PAGE 2
Tag, you’re it MAX FRETHEY
Local Democracy Reporter
It’s been four months since Nelson’s first legal graffiti wall opened for use and the community had welcomed the new splashes of colour. “The work that’s been done to date, it’s just lovely,” says Nelson Environment Centre chief executive Anton Drazevic. The graffiti wall is located at the Environment Centre’s ReUse Shop on Vivian Place in Annesbrook. “We’ve only had positive feedback,” Anton says. “[Visitors] actually think it’s commissioned
Nelson Environment Centre chief executive Anton Drazevic says the graffiti wall is a safe secure place for artists to express themselves. Photo: Max Frethey.
work.” Six graffiti artists have used the wall since mid-December, with some travelling from as far as Blenheim and Christchurch to make their mark, though Anton hopes to eventually welcome artists from further afield. “The word’s already getting out there, and what I’m secretly hoping is that we get international artists… and we get some more global work to appear on the wall.” One of the artists will also do a mural of native birds on a new container dome the centre is building. Anton says the Nelson Environment Centre plays an important role in the community, both in providing a place for residents to shop
SEE PAGE 4
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