Source: ProCare
Leading healthcare provider ProCare has been named the winner of the 2025 Cooperative Business New Zealand Innovation Award, recognising its bold approach to transforming primary care through technology, partnerships, and smarter systems.
Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive of ProCare says, “Innovation is central to how we operate.”
“This award reflects the collective strength of our network and the impact we can achieve when we work together. We’re proud to be leading the way in shaping the future of primary care in New Zealand.”
The award celebrates ProCare’s commitment to using innovation to address challenges and create opportunities for practices, patients, and communities.
Recent initiatives include investing in digital platforms such as Te Ara, which provides practices with better insights and data to improve care, and Tacklit which empowers our mental health teams to streamline operations, deepen patient engagement, and unlock meaningful insights — all while maintaining real human connection.
ProCare has also developed digital assistants to reduce administrative burden, partnered with AI platforms to enhance efficiency and patient experience, and launched Health Accelerator, a joint venture with three other primary care providers, to test and scale new solutions across 500 practices and 2 million patients nationwide.
“Our focus is on creating practical solutions that make a real difference for clinicians and patients,” adds Norwell. “By investing in digital platforms, AI partnerships, and initiatives like Health Accelerator, we’re ensuring that primary care is equipped to meet the needs of today — and tomorrow.”
The ProCare Group includes ProCare Health, one of New Zealand’s largest primary health organisations, Fresh Minds, its mental and behavioural health and wellbeing service, and joint ventures such as Health Accelerator and CareHQ, a virtual care service delivered in partnership with Southern Cross.
For the practices in its network, ProCare’s goal is simple: to provide the best tools, resources, and advice so they can succeed in caring for communities. These initiatives reflect ProCare’s commitment to working at the edge of what’s next and best for primary health.
This recognition follows a series of milestones for ProCare, including the rapid introduction of AI-driven tools, leadership of the National Primary Care Services Scheme (NPTSS), and initiatives to support GPs into practice ownership.
For more information about ProCare’s initiatives and impact, visit www.procare.co.nz/news.You can also read Cooperative Business New Zealand’s announcement of the awards here.
About ProCare
ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi.
As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz
