29 July 2010
MEDIA RELEASE

New purpose-built centre for Napier Plunket

Napier Plunket has announced plans to build a new $1.3million dollar family centre in Onekawa to provide Hawke’s Bay families with a facility for centralised services for parents of children under five years old.

The specifically designed 595 square metre building is to be located on the Onekawa Park site adjacent to Napier Aquatic Centre and the new Omnigym building. An application for Resource Consent has been made and Plunket is aiming to have the Centre completed by the end of 2011.

The Centre design includes over 25 rooms for clinics, conferences, and group and education sessions. A parents’ lounge and children’s indoor playroom are also included.

Alison Prins, leader of the Napier Plunket Centre project, says the charitable organisation had identified back in 2007 that a centralised facility was needed. “More and more parents are working and finding it harder and harder to access not just Plunket’s services but also those of other ‘under-fives’ services.

“Plunket believes passionately in the importance of providing children the best possible start in life and being able to increase the level of support and access to families will be a breakthrough.

“Our new Centre will be accessible, easy to find with good parking, on a bus route and be totally family-friendly,” Mrs Prins says.

The new Plunket Centre will open outside of normal working hours, including weekends. In addition to Plunket’s nurse clinics, car seat rentals, and toy library, the new Centre will be home to Napier Parents’ Centre and its range of parenting services.

There will be clinic rooms for midwives and other health professionals to hire, along with education rooms for parent organisations and community groups to rent for a nominal fee. There are also plans for a child-friendly cafe and perhaps a baby and maternity op shop.

“Plunket continues to adapt to the needs of our communities and has changed from being an organisation predominantly focused on health to an organisation which supports the family in many different ways,” says Mrs Prins.

“Our new Centre will ensure that Plunket continues to meet the needs of Hawke’s Bay families into the future.”

The project already has supporters on board, with Napier City Council donating the land for a peppercorn rental. Mitre 10 Mega in Napier has pledged its support and is working with building designer Ben Luders of Eos Design to approach building supplies manufacturers for discounted materials for the build.

Napier Mayor Barbara Arnott says the project is “a forward thinking and sustainable way of serving the young families of Napier. Council’s contribution to the project is a tangible way of supporting Plunket’s work and the needs of Napier families.”

Funding for the project has been kicked-started by a $75,000 donation from the Lion Foundation, and Radio Network is contributing $54,000 in air time and promotional support to assist with community fundraising.

“We need to raise $275,000 from the Hawke’s Bay community so we have lots of exciting fundraising projects planned and we hope that others will identify how they can help raise funds for us too,” says Hannah Giddens, who is heading up Napier Plunket’s fundraising team.

A Family Fun Day extravaganza will kick off the calendar of events and will be held at the site of the new Centre to raise awareness of the project.

Proceeds from the annual Mega Playhouses for Plunket event, now into its fourth year, will be directed into the building fund. To be held in September at Mitre 10 Mega Napier, the event sees building firms compete to construct playhouses that are then auctioned the following day.

“The designs are getting bigger and more elaborate,” says Mrs Giddens. “Last year $15,000 was raised and going by the plans being drawn up, this year could be even bigger.”

In addition to the community fundraising drive, Plunket will be seeking sponsorship and grants, and directing any bequests into the building fund. It will also be selling its Napier Plunket Family Centre in Lowry Terrace in Marewa and moving services provided there to the new site.

Plunket’s Taradale and Maraenui centres will remain open and active in those communities, although parents in those suburbs as well as Hastings and rural Hawke’s Bay, can also make use of the new Napier Centre.

ENDS

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