New Zealand's specialist GPs face burnout amid expanded roles, while rural training and workforce reforms lag.

Specialist GPs in New Zealand are taking on expanded leadership roles in multidisciplinary teams due to rising patient complexity from aging and chronic illness, yet face burnout from increased supervision duties, legal risks, and underfunding for non-clinical work. A rural health education program in Northland is gaining recognition for immersing students in Māori culture and community-based care, aiming to improve rural health outcomes. Despite years of policy discussions, workforce shortages and systemic strain persist, with little progress on key reforms. Meanwhile, efforts to activate non-practising doctors like Andrea Penman highlight ongoing challenges in health system readiness, particularly during public health emergencies.