From Hicks Bay in the north, to the Wharerata Ranges in the south, the Gisborne/Tairawhiti region is one of the North Island’s most sparsely populated districts.  Almost one-third of the population live in rural areas.  Gisborne Hospital has a coronary care unit.  Regular visiting cardiologist services are provided from Waikato Hospital.

Every year, approximately 250 local heart patients travel to the Waikato taking advantage of specialised cardiac treatments available at Waikato Hospital’s state-of-the-art cardiac unit.  The Heart Trust helped establish cardiac surgery and angioplasty at Waikato Hospital.