New Hāwera doctor enjoys Taranaki’s outdoor lifestyle
A German-born doctor has joined the Hāwera Hospital team as a senior medical officer, after looking for new challenges in his life and career.
Dr Christian Resch, who was working in a hospital in Frankfurt, said he applied to join Hā wera Hospital as he was looking to gain a broader medical experience that working in a provincial hospital provides, as well as a different cultural experience.
‘‘I am an outdoor enthusiast – so I love hiking, cycling and running,’’ he said.
‘‘In the few weeks I have been here I have been walking tracks on Mt Taranaki, and I am planning a summit.’’
He has settled in the Ohawe Beach community and is also keen to take up water sports.
Resch graduated from the University
of Frankfurt in 2008 with a medical degree and completed a specialist degree in general medicine in 2021, while working in one of Frankfurt’s suburban hospitals.
‘‘I’m currently getting to know the Hā wera medical team and its systems on the general wards. I have emergency department training, so in the near future I will also be working in the emergency department at Hā wera Hospital,’’ he said. together, the next stage is some new buildings.’’
He was chairperson of the Hāwera High School board of trustees in 2016 when the idea of changing the town’s schooling was first mooted, as the community was facing rebuilds of Hā wera Intermediate after a fire in 2015, and the high school because of leaking buildings.
The initial discussion was shelved because a consensus wasn’t reached, but the Ministry of Education led a second round of consultation in 2019, and announced in November 2021 that a new school would replace the current ones.
Nixon thanked the ministry for its support in establishing the new school, but added a challenge, asking that it honour its commitment to have the school rebuilt in five years.
‘‘We won’t have a fully built new school in five years, but I would like to see a good hunk of the school having new learning spaces in that time.’’
But he was very pleased the new school had been launched first, so the new buildings could be designed to fit its needs.
‘‘I’m just excited about the future of education here, what’s going to come out of this school, I think it is really great for our community.’’