Summer in Aotearoa is all about sunshine, road trips, beach days, camping missions and long-awaited downtime with the people we love. But while we’re loading up the car with towels, chilly bins, lifejackets and snacks, there’s one small essential that often gets forgotten — a first aid kit.

Why first aid kits matter

To help you stay prepared, we’re offering 10% off the kit when you use the code FirstAid at checkout.

Need help finding the right first aid solution for your home or workplace? Get in touch.

Capes Medical Supplies is proud to announce an exclusive partnership with Aspen Surgical, the global organisation behind the Symmetry Surgical portfolio — one of the most trusted, clinically proven and historically significant families of surgical instruments in the world.

Through this partnership, New Zealand theatre and CSSD teams will have direct access to a suite of premium, German-made Symmetry Surgical instruments, backed by more than 300 years of combined heritage and relied on by surgeons across the globe.

A legacy New Zealand surgeons will instantly recognise
While the Aspen name may be new to some Aotearoa-based clinicians, the instruments absolutely won’t be. The Symmetry Surgical portfolio includes some of the most iconic and proven tools in modern surgery, such as:

• Kerrison & Shurtleff neurosurgery instruments
• The world-renowned Bookwalter® Retractor System
• SSI (Specialty Surgical Instrumentation)
• Olsen Medical electro-surgery instruments

Symmetry Surgical combines a legacy of heritage instruments crafted in Germany—the epicenter of surgical instrument manufacturing since the early 1800s—with advanced craftsmanship and precision that have defined operating rooms for generations.
Today, Symmetry Surgical maintains more than 13,000 surgical products spanning access, intervention and closure — all engineered to support safer surgery and superior patient outcomes across multiple specialties.

For New Zealand, that means clinicians can ask Capes Medical to source, match and replace instruments they have relied on for decades under names they know and trust: Bookwalter, SSI, Olsen, and more.

A partnership grounded in excellence, trust and shared values

“Aspen Surgical chose to partner with Capes because of their strong reputation, nationwide reach and genuine commitment to working alongside CSSD and theatre teams,” says Tony Pascoe, Managing Director / VP Australia & New Zealand, Aspen Surgical. “Capes puts the needs of healthcare professionals first, so they can focus on doing the incredible work they do. We’re proud to partner with a company that shares our focus on quality, reliability and patient outcomes.”

From their headquarters in Michigan, Aspen Surgical has built a global reputation for precision engineering, consistent performance and product innovation. That commitment extends across the entire Symmetry Surgical product family.

Strengthening support for New Zealand operating theatres and CSSD teams

“We are incredibly proud to partner with Aspen and bring the Symmetry Surgical portfolio to New Zealand,” says Ginene Scott, General Manager, Capes Medical Supplies. “These instruments are known worldwide for their craftsmanship and clinical performance. This partnership strengthens our commitment to theatre and CSSD teams, giving them greater access to reliable, high-quality tools — backed by a supplier who genuinely puts people first.”

This partnership is a significant step forward for New Zealand surgical services, offering:

• reliable access to world-leading surgical instruments
• better product matching and replacement support
• fair, transparent pricing
• clinical continuity for teams who rely on Codman, SSI and Bookwalter systems

Support for product matching, samples and replacements

Healthcare providers can now contact Capes Medical’s surgical team to:

• arrange product matching to replace instruments from other manufacturers
• discuss sets, trays and CSSD requirements
• view samples from the extensive portfolio

Speak with a Capes surgical instrument expert
If you’d like to know more about our range of surgical instruments, please get in touch and we’ll connect you with one of our experts.

When you’re running a busy clinic, aged care facility or community nursing service, you need wound care products you can depend on every single day. That’s where bpositive comes in — a hospital-grade range designed for the practical, essential dressing needs clinicians face most often.

While our ActivHeal range is developed for more complex or clinically challenging wounds — where antimicrobial protection, advanced exudate management or specialist technology is needed — bpositive focuses on the everyday fundamentals and the staples that keep patient care moving, at a price point that genuinely supports New Zealand healthcare.

Why BPositive belongs in your wound care toolkit

Hospital-grade essentials for daily care
The bpositive range covers the foundational dressings used across general practice, aged care, community nursing and outpatient settings. Its products are designed to perform consistently and comfortably, supporting a wide range of straightforward wound care needs.

This includes:

• absorbent non-adherent pads for everyday wound protection

• conforming gauze for secure, flexible support

• waterproof films ideal for outpatient and minor post-procedure care

They’re reliable, versatile and clinically trusted — exactly what frontline teams need for routine wound care tasks.

Delivers strong value without compromising care

One of the biggest pressures for New Zealand providers is the rising cost of consumables. bpositive is built with cost-efficiency in mind, giving clinicians a dependable, hospital-grade option that fits tighter budgets without sacrificing patient outcomes.

Clinics often tell us they notice:

• lower per-dressing spend

• less waste

• fewer unnecessary dressing changes

• consistent patient comfort and performance

With bpositive you can achieve great care on any budget. 

Designed to work alongside your full wound care range

bpositive isn’t here to replace everything else on your shelves — it’s here to strengthen what you already do. It complements, rather than competes with, advanced ranges like ActivHeal.

Think of it this way:

• BPositive = your high-quality, hospital-grade everyday essentials

• ActivHeal = your advanced solutions for complex or clinically challenging wounds

Together, they give your team the coverage and flexibility they need across all wound types.

Every purchase gives back

One of the standout features of bpositive is its Buy1Help1 social impact programme. Every time you purchase bpositive products, you help support meaningful community, health or humanitarian initiatives.

It’s a simple but powerful idea: your everyday wound care choices can improve care for others too.

Why BPositive matters for New Zealand healthcare

At a time when budgets are tight and patient needs continue to grow, BPositive offers a smarter, more compassionate choice.

It gives New Zealand clinicians:

• dependable quality

• fairer pricing

• products designed for real-world settings

• a tangible way to support wider community wellbeing

And most importantly, it helps ensure patients receive the standard of care they deserve — without compromise.

Want to trial bpositive for yourself?

We’d love to support you. We can help you:

• access samples to trial

• build a wound care kit that suits your setting

• compare products and pricing

• integrate bpositive alongside your existing range and/or Activheal

Get in touch today.

Visit the bpositive website and discover all the incredible mahi they do.