The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a rapid growth in the use of telehealth, with clinicians in New Zealand's South Island expanding online care into a number of areas, including multidisciplinary paediatric diabetes clinics and virtual Pilates sessions for stroke rehabilitation groups.

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has gone from an average of 13 telehealth consultations per week to 766, while the Canterbury DHB Community Stroke Rehab Service has been able to add new initiatives, especially for people living in rural areas.