Lucy Hall, Author at Botany Junction Medical

Meet Our New GP – From Rarotonga to Auckland, with a Passion for Community Care

By Lucy Hall
septiembre 18, 2025 11:41 am

We’re delighted to introduce one of the newest members of our Botany Junction Medical team, Dr. Roimata! With roots in the Cook Islands, a wealth of experience across New Zealand, and a passion for youth and women’s health, she brings both expertise and heart to her patients.

A Journey Across Islands & Communities

Born and raised in Rarotonga, Dr. Roimata spent most of her schooling years in the Cook Islands before moving to New Zealand to study medicine at the University of Auckland. After graduating, she began her career in the Waikato and Raglan, where she thrived in smaller communities and enjoyed the chance to build close relationships with her patients. A return to Auckland meant continuing her GP career here, where she has also taken on leadership roles, supervising nurse practitioners, nurse prescribers, and GP registrars.

Now, Dr. Roimata balances her role as a GP with part-time study toward a Master’s of Public Health, combining clinical practice with non-clinical perspectives on improving community wellbeing. Her specialist interests include youth health and paediatrics—shaped by her time as a school doctor in the Waikato—as well as women’s health, where she has provided LARC (long-acting reversible contraception) services in the past. She is also deeply interested in supporting patients with long term health conditions, particularly diabetes management.

Joining Botany Junction Medical felt like a natural move. Having worked previously alongside Dr. Derryn at a Mount Wellington clinic, the opportunity to both come here together was a fortunate one.

“The staff have been so welcoming and patient with us as we learn the systems, and the patients themselves are incredibly kind and understanding,” she shares. “It’s also such a great location—there are so many good food spots nearby!”

Life as a Mum, Explorer & Active Learner

Outside of medicine, Dr. Roimata’s world revolves around her family. She supports her husband, a Polynesian artist, and stays busy with their energetic five-year-old son. She also makes it a priority to head back to the Cook Islands once or twice a year to catch up with her family. Proudly bilingual, she speaks Cook Island Māori and treasures the opportunity to pass that heritage on to her child.

We’re thrilled to have her join the BJM team, and we know her mix of professional expertise, cultural connection, and approachable, down-to-earth personality will make her a valued GP for many of our patients.

Meet Dr. Derryn – Bringing Experience, Compassion, and Community Care

By Lucy Hall
septiembre 18, 2025 11:36 am

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Derryn to our team at Botany Junction Medical! With a strong medical background and a genuine connection to our community, she’s here to provide high-quality care for patients of all ages.

Medical Journey & Specialist Interests

Derryn’s path into medicine is a story of commitment, growth, and a genuine desire to help people. She began right here in East Auckland, attending Botany Downs Secondary College, before moving south to Dunedin to complete a Bachelor of Science in Physiology. From there, she returned to Auckland to study medicine, gaining valuable hands-on experience at both Middlemore and Auckland Hospitals. These formative years exposed her to a wide range of specialties and patient needs, helping shape her holistic approach to care.

Over time, Derryn went on to complete diplomas in Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Palliative Care—building a strong foundation across multiple areas of healthcare. This means she’s well-equipped to support patients and families at all stages of life, from newborn care to end-of-life support.

As a GP, Derryn values the variety and challenge that general practice brings. While she has a particular interest in palliative care, childrens’ and women’s health, she truly enjoys the “bit of everything” that comes with being a family doctor.

Having grown up in the local area, joining Botany Junction Medical felt like the right move. “I was looking for a change, and when a colleague mentioned the opportunity here, it just made sense,” she says. “The team is incredibly welcoming, everything runs so smoothly, and it’s fantastic to work in such a supportive environment.”

Life Beyond the Clinic

When she’s not in the clinic, Derryn is passionate about keeping life balanced and active. She plays netball regularly, enjoys getting outdoors, and makes time for long walks whenever possible. Travel is another passion—she’s explored much of Europe, with Croatia standing out as a favourite destination for its stunning coastlines and rich culture.

What makes Derryn such a great addition to our clinic is not just her medical expertise, but also her approachable and down-to-earth nature. Patients can feel confident knowing they’re in the care of someone who is not only highly skilled but also genuinely invested in their well-being.

We’re thrilled to have Derryn on board and are confident her blend of experience, compassion, and strong community ties will make her a trusted GP for many local families.

Introducing Dr. Nirupama: A Warm Welcome to Botany Junction Medical

By Lucy Hall
marzo 4, 2025 10:10 am

At Botany Junction Medical, we take pride in building a team of dedicated and compassionate healthcare professionals. We are delighted to welcome Dr. Nirupama, whose diverse medical background and passion for patient care make her a valuable addition to our practice.

A Diverse Medical Journey

Dr. Nirupama’s medical career has taken her across multiple countries. Originally from Kenya, she pursued her medical training in India due to limited opportunities at the time in her home country. After completing her degree, she worked in both India and Kenya, gaining a breadth of experience in different healthcare settings. Eventually, she relocated to New Zealand in 2017, where she successfully completed her registration exams and began her medical career in Whanganui before moving to Auckland.

Areas of Interest: Women’s Health & Diabetes

With a strong inclination towards women’s health and diabetes management, Dr. Nirupama is keen to expand her expertise in these fields. She enjoys working closely with patients, providing tailored care, and staying updated with the latest developments in these areas to ensure the best outcomes for those she treats.

A Perfect Fit for Botany Junction Medical

Dr. Nirupama’s decision to join Botany Junction Medical was influenced by both professional and personal factors. As a mother of two, finding a clinic close to home was important to her, allowing her to maintain a balanced lifestyle while continuing to provide exceptional healthcare. The clinic’s welcoming environment and supportive team also stood out to her, making it the ideal place to grow in her career.

Outside the Clinic

Beyond her medical work, Dr. Nirupama enjoys spending time outdoors, going for walks, and meditating. Most of all, she cherishes quality time with her children. Being multilingual, she speaks Hindi, Telugu, and Swahili, which enables her to support a diverse range of patients.

Dr. Nirupama describes herself as easygoing and committed to supporting her patients in every way possible. We’re thrilled to have her on board and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our community!

Doctor online NZ | Weekend Doctor Auckland | After hours online GP service

See a Doctor online with our after hours service – Practice Plus NZ

By Lucy Hall
agosto 11, 2022 5:58 pm

Seeing a doctor online after hours in NZ is no longer a luxury but often a necessity. We’ve all experienced changes to how we access healthcare since Covid, and it’s paved the way for online doctor app offerings like Practice Plus. So, we’re excited to announce our partnership with online doctor app, Practice Plus. Lucy Hall explains how the new after hours and weekend doctor service for our Auckland clinics works.

Making healthcare more accessible with our after-hours online doctor service partner

Remember that rainy Auckland weekend when you needed to see a doctor, but the practice was closed and no online options were available? Chances are, the idea of a trip to an after hours A&E doctor wasn’t your idea of a fun time! Of course, there are times when you will have to see the Doctor in person. But sometimes, you simply need a prescription urgently or timely advice on managing an illness or injury from the comfort of home. We understand. Because we’ve been there too, furthermore, we appreciate that it can be frustrating seeing a new GP who isn’t familiar with your medical history. And also that, following your appointment, your notes are not always available for your usual doctor to access.

Get a seamless healthcare experience with Practice Plus online doctor consults (when you need it!)

As part of our commitment to ensure all of your healthcare needs are met, we’ve teamed up with a fantastic partner. One who can not only be available when our team are not but experienced, local NZ doctors who relay the information back to us through our trusty online Patient Portal Spanish, MyIndici.

How to see a qualified NZ doctor online after hours;

Fortunately, it’s now really easy for our Auckland patients to see a GP online, regardless of whether it’s on a weekend or weekday. All you need to do is make an appointment on the Practice Plus app. We’ve created a detailed page describing how Patient Plus works.

3 easy steps to making an online GP appointment

In a nutshell, to make an online after hours appointment, simply:

1. Get online on a smartphone with wifi enabled device
2. Register (or login) to Patient Plus and request an appointment by selecting a time or joining the queue.
3. Pre-pay for your appointment fee with a credit or debit card. You’ll be sent a link to start your appointment.

You’ll be emailed a virtual appointment link 15 minutes before the appointment. The Practice Plus GP will also email any prescription through. Later, the GP will transfer your notes to the normal Patient Portal Spanish. Sharing the consult notes allows your regular GP to stay up-to-date with new conditions or medications. Of course, we’ll be sure the transfer of notes meets our high privacy standards.

Easy!

When should I see a doctor in person at an after hours A&E?

You will sometimes need to go to Urgent Care in person. Rest assured, if a Practice Plus GP thought you needed urgent care in person, they would advise this. Just up the road from our East Auckland clinic is East Care Urgent Care, open every day, 7 am – 11 pm. Go to their A&E for severe wounds, burns, fractures or allergic reactions. In addition, East Care’s health hub offers services like radiology and dental, which are in-person services!

As always, for severe injury or illness, don’t hesitate to:

call Emergency services on 111
call Healthline for advice on 0800 611 116
go to Middlemore Hospital for serious injuries like broken bones or severe wounds.

Find out more about Patient Plus today.

Hopefully, you’ll find answers to your other questions on the After Hours care page and in our FAQs. Contact our reception team if you have further questions about registering. See a doctor through the Practice Plus app. Speaking about the online service Dr Daniel Calder, Group Clinical Director, says “Partnering with the Practice Plus online GPs will further safeguard the health of our Auckland community by enabling them to access care when they need it. It’s an amazing initiative, supported by East Health Trust to create great access to primary care.” We hope you will find the after hours online GP service useful.