Media Release

24 July 2015

Local school children do their bit for the new Kaikoura Integrated Family Health Centre

Children around the Kaikoura region are helping to grow the future from the ground up.

Pupils from the district’s five local primary schools have been growing shrubs and flowers to plant around the new Integrated Family Health Centre (IFHC), which is nearing completion.

Owner of Kaikoura Nurseries Trevor Kenning provided nearly a tonne of potting mix to get the planting going. Hapuku Primary teacher aide Jo Willet helped supervise the children as they made regular trips to the nursery to pot, weed, water and look after the plants.

Trevor says he was excited to get involved with the project and has enjoyed working with the students.

“When they are older, they will be able to tell their families that they planted the plants around the hospital. It will give them a real sense of belonging.”

The project’s landscape plan called for Munstead dwarf lavender (Lavandula Stoechas Munstead), New Zealand Iris (Libertia ixioides) and the Reinga Lily (Arthropodium cirrhatum).

Trevor praised the diligence of the children, who he says have all shown great enthusiasm to keep the plants healthy.

As well as the efforts by the children, registered nurse Susan Fey has been nurturing the roses rescued when the old rose garden was dug up to make way for the new building.

The plants, including the roses, will be planted after the demolition of the old buildings, which is planned for later this year.

Patients will be transferred from the old Kaikoura Hospital into the new 2,800m² $13 million state-of-the-art facility in a staged move by the end of September, allowing contractors, Arrow International, to move to stage two of the project, which is to demolish the old buildings, build new car parks and complete the project before the end of January 2016.

David Meates, Canterbury DHB chief executive, says the community is eager to get in the new building.

“It’s been a long time coming for the community and they’ve worked hard to get it.”

Mr Meates applauded the huge effort made by the community to raise the nearly $3.4 million needed to supplement the government’s $10m spend.

“It’s been incredible to see everyone pitching in, from Arrow International donating the proceeds from the sale of their old site office, through to the Op Shop that’s raised nearly $50,000, the people of Kaikoura have really got behind this project.”

Kaikoura’s new hospital will provide primary, aged, acute and maternity care, radiology services and trauma stabilisation. Parts of the original hospital were over 100 years old, making it the oldest health facility in use in Canterbury.

The primary schools involved in the planting project are Kaikoura Primary, Hapuku Primary, St Joseph’s, Lynton Downs and Suburban.

Don’t miss your chance to walk around the new hospital before it is cleaned, all the clinical equipment commissioned, and the patients move in. Join us for a public Open Day onSaturday, 1 August between 11am and 2pm. There will be tours of the facility and the Health Facility Charitable Trust will be on hand selling refreshments and raffles, and accepting gold coin donations for the tours.

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