The making of a med school: What’s next after breakthrough year

Friday, 2 January 2026

After a huge year, the University of Waikato is now focused on piecing together the country’s third medical school from the ground up.

The project is 'all go' after receiving the Government green-light in July last year and breaking ground on construction in December but the priority this year is securing accreditation, funding and keep up the momentum.

When the building is completed in December 2027, it clears the way for the first new medical school to open in New Zealand in almost 60 years.

Pro Vice-Chancellor of Health Jo Lane said 2025 had been a pivotal year for the project, following years of advocacy driven by the country’s ongoing shortage of rural doctors and a commitment made by National during the 2023 election campaign.

Graduate entry health programmes were common internationally, he said, and as the university had opened new graduate midwifery and pharmacy programmes early in 2025, a graduate medical programme was the “next logical step”.

He helped put together financial information for a business case last summer.

After this came ‘the magic of Wellington’, in which consultants pulled all aspects of the business case together.

“It got the official green light on the 21st of July.

“Cabinet met that afternoon and, suddenly it was all go.”

They had always been confident in the need for the programme, but it was ultimately a political decision.

No-one had experienced the process which formed Auckland’s medical school in 1968, and keeping morale high had been a challenge.

“People knew the need was there, and they knew that the proposal we had in place was a good one, but [it was] keeping belief that this was going to get across the line.”

A virtual dissection table — the country’s first — had also been introduced in July, and would be a key piece of technology for the medical school.

Interim Dean of Medicine David McCormack took up his role in August and said the focus had quickly turned to building the programme itself. That included recruiting expertise from across the health sector, with strong interest from clinicians and academics both regionally and nationally.

“The task now is piecing together the graduate-entry programme, building a team and a curriculum,” he said, while also drawing on education models from North America, Canada and Australia.

In October, the university formalised a partnership with the University of Wollongong, which runs a rurally focused four-year graduate medical programme.

“The agreement gives us access to their curriculum, but more importantly, access to the knowledge and wisdom of people who have developed a rurally based programme for 20 years,” McCormack said.

About half of Wollongong’s graduates returned to primary or rural care, he said, offering valuable lessons for Waikato’s approach.

Construction officially began in December, a moment McCormack said gave the wider community tangible proof the project was under way after more than a decade of discussion.

“It gave people a look at the future,” he said.

The next major milestone is accreditation through a joint process involving the New Zealand and Australian medical councils. Australia has overseen medical accreditation in New Zealand for the past six decades.

McCormack said the university was aiming to lodge its stage one submission by mid-year, with council representatives expected to visit the region in February 2027, a year ahead of the first intake of 120 students.

“It’s a real, welcome scrutiny,” he said. “It’s about making sure we’re realising the aspirations we have for ourselves and for the population.”

The total project cost is estimated at $230 million, with the Government contributing $83 million. Lane said the university would fund the remaining $150 million, split roughly evenly between its operating position and philanthropic support. While he did not specify how much had been raised, he said progress was tracking well.

The next phase of work includes confirming the locations for community-based clinical placements for students in years two to four of the programme, following their first year on the Hamilton campus.

“There’s a shortlist of places we’re looking at,” Lane said, adding that some philanthropic efforts were expected to come from those communities.

In December, the University of Canterbury formally partnered with Waikato to expand access to medical training, including collaboration on South Island placements. Once placement locations are finalised, the university expects to make further announcements around philanthropic support.

McCormack said the intention was to carry the same pace into 2026, with staff continuing work over the summer period.

“It was a really positive year,” he said. “And we intend to run into 2026 with similar momentum.”