The Future of Kauri Lodge

Whangaroa Health Services location was originally an army barracks that was then gifted to the District Health Board to meet the growing health and wellbeing needs of the Whangaroa Community and opened as a hospital in 1945.  

Whangaroa Health Services was incorporated in 1996 as a charitable community-owned Trust, with 2 acute inpatient beds. Kauri Lodge originally had ten dedicated beds in the Rose Wing and has now expanded to 25-bed facility.

Our buildings are now 75 years old and the cost to maintain the grounds and buildings is increasing due to its age. This is not funded through the DHB. Over the last 10 years, this has put a significant strain on the profitability of providing age care in Whangaroa. To increase our capacity we have to include earthquake strengthening and firewalls etc. Over the last twelve months, repairs to some of our vital systems include two major water mains breaks and last years drought highlighted our increased need for better water storage.

Funding our Kauri Lodge

Whilst the Trust had two funding streams when the medical centre was under Trust control, there was the ability to continue to run it as the Rest Home we know. The loss of the medical centre to another provider has left the Trust with no option but to reassess the viability of Kauri Lodge with an eye to the future.

Kauri Lodge in its current form costs hundreds of thousands of dollars more than it generates in funding. The Trust has a short term (June 2022) funding arrangement in place to allow it to continue to operate Kauri Lodge while undertaking a feasibility study on its future. This includes the size of Kauri Lodge, the mix of beds, the cost/operating structure and age of the facility, Kauri Lodge cannot continue as it has in the past.

Whatever service we provide has to be delivered in a form that is self-funding. The age of our buildings at our Omaunu site plus modern regulations for age care facilities will require significant investment in infrastructure. Due to the nature of the Trust, there is no access to funds available to normal business. A viable plan for the future is essential in any application from funding sources available to the Trust for future redevelopment.

“The voice of our community is paramount in keeping Kauri Lodge open. Kauri Lodge not only provides a service for our elderly but employment for over 40 of our Whanau. “ anonymous

We as a community need to decide together what the future holds in providing our community with an Aged Related Residential Care Unit.  There has to be-change; there is no future in the status quo. Everyone in our community needs to be part of developing the pathway of change.

To learn more about these services we provide for our Rest Home. PLEASE VISIT WWW.WHST.ORG.NZ.