Two marae in south Auckland are calling for dialysis units to be installed on their grounds to improve the quality of life for kidney disease sufferers.
Counties Manukau area has the highest number of people in New Zealand who use dialysis machines, which help clean toxins from the blood.
The local district health board says it is working with Manurewa Marae and is open to proposals from others.
Papakura Marae chief executive Tony Kake says Maori and people of Pacific heritage, who are more likely to have kidney disease, would find a marae a more comfortable place to receive dialysis treatment than a hospital ward.
