Almost 30,000 Bay of Plenty District Health Board patients received a first specialist assessment last year - an increase of about 8500 since 2008.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said increased access to specialist care was a priority.
"In Bay of Plenty DHB 29,941 patients received a First Specialist last year, compared to 21,423 patients in 2008 - an increase of 40 per cent.
"Across the country 552,423 patients received a FSA in 2016, a rise of almost 10,000 on the previous year. That's an increase of 147,912 patients since 2008 when 404,511 FSAs were carried out - a rise of 37 per cent.
"This uplift has been accompanied by a continuing increase in the number of people receiving elective surgery."