Backing the future of General Practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

About us

Primary Health Initiative (PHI) is a non-partisan philanthropic trust set up to advance the health and well-being of all New Zealanders by enabling a world class primary health care system.

We believe collaboration across the sector is essential to driving meaningful change. Since PHI was established, we have focused on understanding the challenges facing General Practice, recognising the critical role GPs play in the health of our communities and the functioning of the wider health system.

As our work evolves, PHI is now concentrating its efforts on supporting initiatives that:

Significantly increase the number of New Zealand-trained GPs in Aotearoa, and
Improve the remuneration of GPs, helping ensure General Practice remains a sustainable and attractive career.

By focusing on these priorities, we hope to contribute to a stronger primary care workforce and a healthier future for all New Zealanders.

We would like to acknowledge TGT Legal for their generous pro bono services, supporting us through our registration process with the Charities Service.

Approach

Our Approach

PHI is particularly interested in supporting initiatives that:

Increase the number of New Zealand-trained GPs
Helping grow a sustainable pipeline of GPs trained and retained in Aotearoa.

Improve the sustainability of General Practice
Supporting approaches that strengthen funding models and ensure GPs are fairly remunerated for the vital role they play.

Why this matters

A strong primary care system is one of the most effective ways to improve health outcomes and reduce pressure across the wider health system.

General practitioners are central to this. Yet the sector is facing significant workforce and sustainability challenges. Strengthening General Practice is essential to ensuring all New Zealanders can access high-quality care close to home.