The future of a tribal-owned rural hospital on the East Coast is being decided in a review of the region's health services.
Early feedback from consultation hui suggests the Te Puia site north of Tokomaru Bay should be retained, but one or two communities are questioning the stability of the buildings.
Maori health provider Ngati Porou Hauora says no-one wants to lose any services, and Te Puia should stay.
But chief executive Rose Kahaki says the rural hospital is expensive to run and the health dollar is getting less and less.
Ms Kahaki says the question on everyone's mind is whether the health dollar should go into bricks and mortar or primary care.
She says Te Puia is viewed by some as an outdated but beautiful building that costs a lot of money to run.
A review of health services on the East Coast, looking at clinical performance and value for money, is being carried out by Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou, Ngati Porou Hauora, and Tairawhiti District Health Board.
