It’s the people, not the building

Hospice Tairawhiti has cared for the terminally ill and their families in the Gisborne/East Coast area since 1980. After 27 years in the same office space, in December they relocated to their larger, vibrant new building which is located on Gisborne Hospital grounds. The new build provides a base and community hub for volunteers, doctors and nurses who provide services for visiting patients and their families.

 Kj Danielle, Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator for Hospice is loving the new building but is quick to point out that, “Hospice is not about a building, we’re more than that. It’s about the range of free services we provide, not just for the person needing us, but also their whanau.”

 Over the past year, from June 2020 – July 2021 Hospice was able to care for and support 217 people and their whanau, with 89% of them able to spend their final days and weeks in their place of choice. Working with existing services, Hospice provides extra support and expertise when required, whether a patient is at home or in hospital.

 “We’re not one size fits all. What we do for people depends on the needs of each person individually and their family's needs. With our aging population the need for Hospice will grow too and Hospice Tairawhiti has the ability to flex with this growth.”

 Hospice is grateful for the endowment fund they have with Sunrise, guaranteeing them funding every year forever. Any donation made through this fund will continue to grow as the money is invested forever, and income generated is donated back to Hospice.