Wellbeing expo to highlight health services
Hurunui District Council media release: 17th March 2026
The cooler months may be creeping closer, but there’s some great healthy entertainment on offer in Culverden at the end of the month.
The Culverden Wellbeing Expo is a FREE fun family event with plenty on offer when it comes to your health.
Date: Friday 27th March 2026.
Time: 3 to 6pm.
Location: Amuri Area School.
Waitaha Primary Health Practice Support Navigator Pamela Black said the Expo is a great chance for anyone in Hurunui to meet staff from a range of health and wellbeing services.
If anyone requires support to enrol with a North Canterbury Medical Centre, Waitaha Primary Health can help with that at the Expo, as well as provide information to promote health and wellbeing awareness.
“I’m most looking forward to connecting with people living in Hurunui’s communities, and supporting them around their health and wellbeing,” said Pam.
This event is supported by Waitaha Health, Together Hurunui, Welcoming Communities, Health NZ, St John, and health centres in Hurunui.
Practice Manager at Amuri Community Health Centre Jo Powell said the Expo is a great way to access information and advice about general health and wellness, from many different practitioners.
Amuri Community Health Centre as well as other health facilities in Hurunui will be there, enrolments are welcome.
“We want to encourage wellness and also support people to be enrolled with our health care centre, to ensure they can access healthcare if they need it,” said Jo.
Health centres across Hurunui will be commencing flu vaccinations from the beginning of April, and a COVID 19 booster will be available at the same time if people would like it.
Jo said a further COVID 19 wave is upon us so more people are becoming more unwell, which may mean the level of immunity is decreasing.
The MMR vaccination for measles is also available at health centres in Hurunui.
“We strongly encourage people to consider becoming vaccinated against measles too, which is a highly contagious and vaccine-preventable disease. Protect yourself and your loved ones,”
Pam encouraged the MMR vaccine as measles spreads faster than most diseases, often before symptoms appear. She said whooping cough is another illness that does the rounds and can be vaccinated for.
“The flu vaccine strengthens immunity against circulating virus strains, reduces the severity of symptoms if you do get sick, and helps prevent spreading the virus to family and the community.”
Pam added that movement to support mobility, eating a variety of colourful fruit and vegetables to strengthen the immune system, caring for mental health by doing enjoyable things and maintaining social connections, keeping warm, coughing into your arm, and wearing a mask if you are unwell, are all great starters for winter wellness.
As Chair of Together Hurunui, Mayor Marie Black supports the Expo as an opportunity to look for information, explore curiosity about a service, or simply learn something new about your health and wellbeing.
“The Expo is about strengthening the connections that keep rural communities healthy and supporting one another to live well,” said Mayor Black.
Together Hurunui and Welcoming Communities Facilitator Natalie Paterson said support from funders is so important for creating family events like this, as there will be entertainment for young ones too at the Expo such as a bouncy castle, face painting, giveaways and BBQ treats.
“We are always so grateful to everyone involved, and we’re excited to bring communities together for the Culverden Wellbeing Expo.”