Tauranga Hospital’s new state-of-the-art ultrasound machine is expected to make specialist kidney care safer, easier and faster to get, closer to home, thanks to a generous donation by Trinity Lands. Pacific Growth was grateful to attend the gifting in January.
Pasifika people experience disproportionately high rates of chronic kidney disease, and this donation improves their ability to access timely care.
Renal patients across Bay of Plenty will benefit from safer and more advanced care thanks to a generous donation from local charitable trust Trinity Lands, which has funded a new stateoftheart ultrasound machine for Tauranga Hospital’s Kidney Service.
Chronic kidney disease affects an estimated 10% of New Zealanders, with Pacific, Māori, and Asian communities experiencing disproportionately high rates. Exact figures are not known, but one study found 17.8% of Samoan patients in Auckland met the criteria. The rate can vary up to 36.3%.
With related conditions like diabetes and hypertension also on the rise, early detection and intervention are crucial to slowing disease progression.
The dedicated machine significantly enhances the hospital’s ability to perform diagnostic kidney biopsies, a vital procedure that helps clinicians pinpoint the cause of kidney disease and guide timely, targeted preventative or corrective treatment.
“Demand for renal biopsies continues to rise with our growing population and increasingly complex referrals."
“This donation ensures patients can continue to receive advanced kidney care right here in Tauranga. It’s a big step forward for our community. The new ultrasound
technology offers superior image quality, improving accuracy while increasing safety for both patients and clinicians during biopsy procedures."
“Beyond biopsies, the equipment enables the Kidney Service to offer additional procedures, including the placement of temporary dialysis catheters, ensuring the service evolves with patient needs. In 2025, the team completed 51 procedures, with demand growing by approximately 25% each year,” says Dr Crawford.
Trinity Lands Chief Executive David Turner says supporting the hospital aligns with the organisation’s mission to strengthen the communities in which it operates.
“We trust this equipment will make a meaningful difference for renal patients, helping them receive highquality treatment closer to home. At Trinity Lands, we grow to give – this is one small way we can support the wellbeing of our community.”
Established to do good
Trinity Lands is a charitable trust aiming to support local communities to flourish, through farming and growing.
It was formed through the amalgamation of three foundational trusts – Lichfield Lands, Longview Trust and Hillview Trust – with early beginnings in sheep farming.
Today, Trinity Lands has a farming presence in the South Waikato and Bay of Plenty rooted in dairy, kiwifruit and property investment. They farm more than 5000 hectares of dairy land, 15,500 livestock and produce 8 million kilograms of milk solids annually.
While Trinity Lands is a major player in the farming space, providing learning and development opportunities for young people in the industry, its core focus is to help its communities.
The organisation describes it as a “great privilege” to be able to fund excellent community-run programmes, enabling enthusiastic and hard-working local groups to
support those who face challenges.
Photos: Ultrasound + USS demo
