Scholarly stoush continues between Waikato and Otago over med school

Thursday, 12 March 2026

An artists impression of the University of Waikato Graduate Medical School, which is expected to open its doors to students in 2028.

The University of Waikato is brushing off worries from its Otago rival that Waikato medical school students will be placed in their patch.

The University of Otago went to Health Minister Simeon Brown in October to flag concerns that Waikato students would be placed in Christchurch and Nelson, One News reported.

A second letter also claimed Otago and Auckland universities would have to “retrench from some existing placements without having been consulted in the process”.

A Waikato University spokesperson told the Waikato Times that they were working with Health NZ with communities and primary care providers “to identify locations that will support clinical placements for students”.

Concerns about the Waikato proposal were outlined in emails and letters from former Finance Minister and University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson.

They said the Ministry of Health has also convened a forum of senior leaders across the Waikato, Auckland and Otago universities, and other agencies, “to support coordination of clinical placements”.

The University of Waikato declined, however, to answer specific questions from the Times, citing “the interest of respecting the processes underway”.

“We will decline the opportunity to provide further comment on this occasion.”

A University of Otago spokesperson later clarified the concerns raised with the Health Minister were in October. The University was now pleased the Government had listened to its concerns about placements and was looking forward to working collaboratively with Waikato University.

This isn’t the first time the Otago and Auckland universities have criticised Waikato’s plans for the country’s third medical school.

Back in 2024 a report, commissioned by the universities, poured a healthy dose of cold water on plans to build a new medical school at Waikato University.

The Medical Education in New Zealand: current state and consideration of future options report, authored by PwC New Zealand, has found the existing medical schools at Otago and Auckland could increase the number of doctors trained in New Zealand by 300, if additional funding was available and caps on student numbers were raised.

The Waikato Times also revealed last year sustained efforts by the University of Otago – including its vice-Chancellor and ex-Finance Minister Grant Robertson – to slow or derail Waikato University’s ultimately successful bid to establish the country’s third medical school.

Robertson repeatedly challenged the credibility of the business case process, criticising both the content being developed and the timelines set by Government officials.

His objections, along with those of senior Otago and Auckland medical leaders, were detailed in emails, letters and reports obtained under the Official Information Act.

Robertson argued the Government did not need a new medical school to lift doctor numbers. “All that’s required is for the Government to increase the cap on the number of training places available,” he said.

“At a time when Government resources are stretched, especially in the health system, the proposal simply doesn’t make sense.”

However, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told those gathered for a recent sod turning ceremony for the new medical school that it was a much needed project.

“I think the message is very simple — this is a country that has one medical school for every 2.6 million people.

“Australia has one medical school for every 1.2 million people.”

The new medical school will open up places for 120 students from 2028.

Clarification: An earlier version of this story did not seek comment from the University of Otago and has been updated to reflect their current position.