Residents of South and East Auckland can now access urgent medical care at any time, with the Counties Manukau after-hours service officially moving to 24-hour, seven-day-a-week operations.

Health Minister Simeon Brown says the change marks a major milestone for the region, which has been without a 24/7 after-hours urgent care service for several years.

“This is a significant milestone for people living in the Counties Manukau area, which has been the only part of Auckland without a 24/7 after-hours service,” Mr Brown said.

“Families can now get help for urgent health issues at any time of the day or night, without needing to go to hospital unless it is a genuine emergency.”

The service had previously extended its operating hours from 7.30am to midnight on 17 December 2025. It has now transitioned to full round-the-clock coverage.

Mr Brown said the expanded service would improve access to care while easing pressure on Middlemore Hospital’s emergency department.

“Families deserve care that is close to home, easy to access, and good value,” he said.

“Extending this proven service to 24/7 means people can get timely, quality medical attention when they need it.”

Overnight care will be delivered through a flexible workforce model, including doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, paramedics and telehealth support, to ensure continuous and safe care.

Mr Brown said restoring 24/7 urgent care access to Counties Manukau was a priority for the Government.

“Counties Manukau previously had a 24/7 urgent care service, but it was closed in December 2020 under the previous government. Today, we are bringing that service back for the community,” he said.

The move forms part of the Government’s national Urgent Care and After-Hours Framework, which aims to ensure 98 percent of New Zealanders live within a one-hour drive of in-person urgent care.

Mr Brown said further upgrades to urgent care services are planned across the country this year, including expanded 24/7 services in Whangārei and Tauranga, extended daytime urgent care in Invercargill, increased support for rural communities, and extended hours for East Auckland from 1 March.

“This is about giving more communities timely access to urgent care and helping reduce pressure on busy hospital emergency departments,” he said.