November 10 2017
NEW HOSPICE BUILDING A NEW ZEALAND FIRST IN DESIGN
A new Warkworth Wellsford Hospice caring centre, with architecture influenced by ‘The Architecture of Hope’ from
Maggie’s Centres abroad and offering wraparound care within, will be the first of its kind in New Zealand.
The new Hospice, Tui House, offers a fresh approach in both architecture and health, hosting private and semi-private
spaces with most rooms connecting to the outdoors. A distinguishing feature of the Warkworth building is that it is
based on the concept of a barn to suit the largely rural area it serves and to provide a hopeful, open energy space
which is homely, welcoming and familiar. The distinctive design blends easily with the rural landscape.
The day programmes have been largely modelled on the Dove House Model of wraparound care which supports and empowers
people in the community to navigate holistically through the process of living with, and dying from, life threatening
illness.
Patients, family members and other carers will be able to attend nurse-led clinics, day programmes, patient and
caregiver education, therapy groups (e.g. relaxation and mindfulness), grief and other support groups. Tui House will
provide two day respite beds and includes an education and community wing* where hospice nurses can give palliative care
training to healthcare workers and members of the community.
Warkworth Wellsford Hospice General Manager, Kathryn Ashworth says the new purpose built facility will enable Warkworth
Wellsford Hospice to keep pace with the growing need for care as the local population grows and ages.
“We believe rural people deserve the same quality of care as people in urban areas and we look forward to providing
that,” she says. “We will be able to offer services which help keep our patients close to home and may keep them out of
hospital. Tui House will allow Hospice to offer wraparound support, giving families confidence to care for their loved
ones at home and deal with challenges as the person’s illness progresses.”
Construction of the new, $6 million facility, on the corner of Glenmore and Morrison Drives, Warkworth, began in May
last year. The majority of donations came from 157 individuals, businesses and community groups and funds pledged from
Trusts and Foundations. Major donations came from the Rodney Health Charitable Trust, Pub Charity, the Ted and Mollie
Carr Endowment Trust, the Lotteries Community Facilities Fund and The David Levene Foundation. Hospices receive no
government funding for capital projects.
“We are in awe of the generosity of people in this community and we can’t wait to celebrate what we have achieved
together,” says Mrs Ashworth.
Warkworth Wellsford Hospice previously operated out of two former dairy factory houses which are now inadequate for
current and future demand.
Tui House will be formally opened by Her Excellency, The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New
Zealand on November 16.
* This space will be available for hire to the community for meetings, small events and private functions.
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