The Wellington Independent Practitioners Association LTD (WIPA) was formed in 1995 with 32 General Practitioner shareholding members, based in central Wellington. WIPA LTD has evolved into a significant management services organisation working across 4 District Health Boards in the lower North Island

IPAs were formed by groups of GPs primarily to provide the opportunity for collaborative effort to manage health resources, to progress quality initiatives, to contract with funders. A strong clinical governance model underpins all that WIPA does. Prior to the formation of IPAs, general practices and in some cases single practitioners worked and contracted as small businesses.

In 2005, WIPA now contracts with four District Health Boards in the lower North Island , the Ministry of Health, ACC, five PHOs and a range of other health sector organisations, to provide the management services to deliver excellent health services to the communities in which we work. Whilst these services are mainly primary and community based services, WIPA also manages a range of referred services (Radiology, Retinal Screening) and secondary services. (Podiatry, Sexual Health)

The WIPA Board is made up of both elected and appointed members. WIPA is established as a limited liability company but does not pay a dividend to shareholders. All revenue is utilised to support the provision of high quality health services.

The Greater Wellington Health Trust (GWHT) was formed in 1997, to contract with funders to provide health services. WIPA manages the Greater Wellington Health Trust. GWHT is a “not for profit” Trust and the beneficiaries as defined in the Trust Deed are the people of greater Wellington . All available funds are spent to support the provision of high quality health services.