Refurbished North Shore site gets approval for public use

28 December 2022 // MEDIA RELEASE

After years of planning, and navigating a global pandemic, the monumental $20 million project to redevelop the Harbour Hospice building on the North Shore is celebrating a major milestone – being approved for public use.

Its Inpatient Unit re-opened in January this year with this final phase of construction receiving its Certificate of Public Use by the Auckland Council this month.

From early next year patients, families and whānau will begin to attend outpatient clinics, counselling and therapy sessions as well as day programmes and training in its new state-of-the-art community wing. Clinical teams will also soon occupy their spacious new multidisciplinary office.

Final work and “finishing touches” will continue over the next few weeks both within the building and in the garden and outdoor areas.

“We are so very proud of our new facility, which will serve the community for decades to come,” Harbour Hospice Chief Executive Jan Nichols says.

“Patients, families and whānau will be able to appreciate all the extra rooms, facilities and beautiful outdoor spaces that have been added to the inpatient area,” she says.

This ambitious project has been made possible by the generosity of the North Shore community including individuals, trusts, grants, community groups and corporate supporters. The remaining $10 million was contributed from the North Shore Development Foundation built up by Hospice over many years.

Nichols says the team is also very grateful to its construction partner, Rucon, for pulling out all the stops to not only complete the project four months ahead of schedule, but before Christmas. “It was a real race to the finish line in the final few days with constant rain a real challenge,” she says. “But they did it!”

“To the many individuals, trusts and organisations who gave their support to make possible this amazing community asset, I cannot thank you enough,” she adds.

There is less than $300,000 left to fundraise to fully fund the project. If you’d like to make a donation to support this vital community project please contact Fundraising Manager Sandy McGregor on 021 80 80 90 or Sandy.McGregor@harbourhospice.org.nz. An official opening is planned for early 2023.