An association of care providers has criticised a proposal to close two public aged-care facilities in Buller.
The West Coast District Health Board is looking to close Kynnersley Home, and Dunsford Ward in Buller Hospital, which together house 26 people.
Chief executive of the Home and Community Health Association Julie Haggies ays while doing so would save the board money, it would also put the only other facility in Buller under strain.
That facility is run by a charitable trust.
She said outsourcing aged-care services to community providers was becoming more prevalent as district health boards cut costs.
"Community providers are being squeezed by the funding coming through from government and this is sort of evidence that the DHBs can't afford to run them, but the community providers are expected to, but at a lower cost."