Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles
For the first time, the tiny King Country Town of Piopio, population 400, has its own dentist. Kim Tatham hails from Piopio and established premises in the town so she didn't have to commute hours to work. Patients are coming from far and wide and, once a year, dentists from around the North Island converge on Piopio for a conference. Speakers aren't paid but instead are given the opportunity to kill pests on Kim's farm and conference fees are donated to community projects. Late last year Kim won Rural Women New Zealand's Rural Health and Wellbeing excellence award.
