Our story
Welcome to Piki Te Ora Health Centre, where affordable, accessible healthcare meets compassionate care for our community.
- 1989 - Founded by 18 unions as the Canterbury Trade Union Medical Centre Incorporated, providing affordable, accessible healthcare for working New Zealanders
- 1990s - Expanded the constitution to welcome an increasingly diverse community and became Union & Community Health Centre Incorporated
- 2000s - Moved into a purpose-built premises in Cashel Street and a second clinic in Bexley before consolidating services at 201 Linwood Avenue
- 2010s - Supported our community through the 2010-11 earthquakes
- 2019 - First responders at the Linwood Islamic Centre attack
- 2020 - Supported our community through the Covid pandemic
- 2022 - Purchased our Linwood premises through community fundraising, grants and Christchurch City Council support, securing our future. Our organisation became a charitable trust and was renamed Piki Te Ora Health Centre Trust
- Today - Proudly serving more than 6,000 whānau with aroha and equitable healthcare
Piki Te Ora was founded on the principles of equity and social justice. These founding members envisioned a future where hardworking New Zealanders, regardless of their circumstances, could access the care they needed to thrive. This vision remains at the heart of everything we do.
Today, as a Very Low-Cost Access (VLCA) medical centre, we continue this proud legacy. We provide high-quality primary healthcare to the whānau and communities of East Christchurch, many of whom face significant challenges such as financial hardship and limited resources. We understand the tough choices families make when money is tight, and we’re here to ensure no one has to choose between their health and other essential needs.
At Piki Te Ora, we go beyond treating illness – we provide hope and support to empower our community. By offering preventative care, early diagnosis, and compassionate treatment, we aim to reduce barriers to healthcare and build healthier, more resilient futures for everyone.
When you walk through our doors, you’re not just a patient – you’re whānau.