Mayor Neil Brown said New Zealand healthcare “needs a lot of work” after signing a landmark declaration this week.

He is one of several mayors to sign the Buller declaration, created by Patient Voice Aotearoa, which asks the government to act immediately on the current health staff worker shortage in New Zealand.

The declaration was first signed in Buller, where over 2000 residents marched to raise awareness of the town’s lack of medical facilities.

Chairperson of Patient Voice Aotearoa Malcolm Mulholland experienced first-hand the lack of resourcing in rural towns after his father, who lives there, fell ill.

“It’s through that that I started to experience [that] health system, which was a real eye-opener for me, especially in rural communities.”

A 21 million dollar health facility opened in Buller last year, but has closed 11 times since its opening according to Patient Voice.

Earlier this year, Mulholland had delivered a petition to parliament asking the government to fix the staff shortages at Buller Hospital.

As a result of media attention, different communities began to approach him with concerns for their own hospitals and people.

“I received calls from Kaitaia, from Hawera, Masterton, Oamaru.”

“People were saying ‘Oh, it’s the same story for us’.”

The declaration had been signed by the Waitaki, Oamaru and Timaru mayors earlier in the day, and would be signed in Christchurch next.

Ashburton mayor Neil Brown signed the declaration, followed by deputy mayor Liz McMillan and councillor Carolyn Cameron at Te Whare Whakatere (the district council building).

Brown said the New Zealand health system “needs a lot of work”.

“By signing this, if it helps and sends a message, I’m happy to do so.”

He said he was aware that people in rural communities like Ashburton can struggle to get out for a check up, and hopes the government takes the declaration seriously.

“If you believe the health system’s in crisis, please come in and sign it.”

Anyone can sign the declaration – a copy has been left at Te Whare Whakatere on the bottom floor.

Mulholland is aiming to present 100,000 signatures to parliament.

“We’ll collate [the sheets], put them on a big scroll, and then we’re gonna march to parliament and deliver it.”

“What we’re hoping is that the government will listen.”

“We do have a healthcare crisis,” he said, “and we need them to act urgently.”

By Anisha Satya