It is my
privilege to present the Chair’s Statement for the Taranaki
Health Foundation Trust’s 2024 Annual Report, reflecting on a
year of generosity, innovation, and impact.
In 2024, we saw an outstanding $2.8 million in
donations, a testament to the incredible support from
individuals, businesses, and organisations who share our vision
for providing enhanced healthcare for Taranaki whānau. A
particular highlight was securing a
$1.5 million naming rights donation from the
Rapid Relief Team — an extraordinary contribution that will
leave a lasting legacy in our community.
We also continued to explore innovative fundraising
opportunities, including the successful sale of eight rooms as
part of our Room to Dream initiative. The Room to Dream
initiative is an incredibly exciting opportunity for businesses
or individuals to sponsor specific rooms throughout the New East
Wing Building and Taranaki Cancer Centre.
Ongoing support from neonatal naming rights donor, Methanex, and
a steady increase in community giving, including gifts in kind
further increased the value delivered by the Trust during the
year.
None of this would be possible without the dedication and
creativity of our hardworking team, who consistently go above
and beyond to ensure donors have a meaningful experience and see
the real impact of their generosity. Their commitment is what
drives our success.
Looking ahead, we remain focused on growing our donor base,
strengthening relationships, and identifying new opportunities
to enhance healthcare for all Taranaki whānau. The future is
positive, and together, we can continue making a profound
difference in the lives of many.
On behalf of the Trust, I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone
who has contributed to our mission. Your generosity is
supporting vital healthcare in our region, and we look forward
to building on this momentum in the years to come.
Brian Ropitini
Taranaki Health Foundation Chairperson
A message from the General Manager
This last financial year has seen some amazing successes, which we
are incredibly proud of. This is in the face of an ever-changing
economic climate, with many businesses and individuals taking a
cautious approach and pulling back on investing in community
projects.
That being said, we have had a new naming-rights sponsor come
on-board with the Rapid Relief Team ICU and our team have
developed a wide range of ways for people to have the opportunity
to support local healthcare enhancements.
We are always amazed by the incredible local heroes who step up
and do their part for their community. The people of Taranaki are
the best. Taranaki deserves the best.
Adrian Sole
Taranaki Health Foundation, General Manager
About the Tarankai Health Foundation
The Taranaki Health Foundation is a charitable organisation
founded in 1998 in partnership with the Taranaki District Health
Board — now Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Taranaki. The
partners’ shared vision is to enable the best possible
healthcare outcomes via fundraising for key projects that will
significantly impact our local region.
Since 2021, the focus has been on fundraising for enhancements
to Project Maunga Stage 2 — a major redevelopment project at
Taranaki Base Hospital that includes the New East Wing Building,
Taranaki Cancer Centre and Te Puna Wai Kātea Mental Health
Rehabilitation Centre.
Key Stats
52 Donations over $500
$2,837,966 donated
2 Naming-rights
Average major donation of $54,576
8 x rooms sponsored
2 x new hospital buildings
Project Maunga updates
New East Wing Building
As we approach the final year of the New East Wing Building
construction, it is getting very exciting to see the outline
of this amazing new facility rise up into the New Plymouth
skyline.
Currently aiming for completion in the second half of 2025,
there is still a hive of activity on the inside, with
plasterboard, utilities and fixtures all being put in
throughout this mammoth building.
As of 27 June 2024, we have achieved the
following fundraising for the various departments.
Department
Received
Invoiced
Pledged
Untagged
$58,796
$10,000
-
Maternity
$19,971
0
0
Neonatal
$2,523,417
$5,000
$1,971,880
ICU
$4,805
$10,000
$1,500,000
Emergency
$25,264
$20,000
$32,500
Radiology
$6,876
-
-
Total
$2,639,129
$45,000
$3,504,380
June 2023December 2023May 2024
Taranaki Cancer Centre
The Taranaki Cancer Centre is an incredible opportunity for the
region, and is a facility that really resonates with the
community. It is an opportunity of focus for us in the next year
and we expect to see large sums of money donated from
businesses, community groups and individuals.
With the expected opening date of the second half of 2025, we
have time to educate and create an opportunity for people to be
involved in one of this region’s most important healthcare
developments in many years. We have already seen a great
response from those we have approached and are well on our way
to our target.
Department
Received
In-kind
Pledged
Cancer Centre
$198,837
$11,126
$167,209
Total
167,209
$11,126
$167,209
2023/24 Highlights
Rapid Relief Team delivers $1.5 million for Taranaki Hospital
ICU upgrade
A major upgrade of Taranaki Base Hospital will be supported by
a $1.5 million donation from the Rapid Relief Team (RRT),
which sourced the money through local fundraising.
The donation is a significant contribution towards the fit out
of the Intensive Care Unit in the new East Wing Building
currently under construction, which will be officially named
the ‘Rapid Relief Team ICU’.
RRT New Zealand Director Cameron Prestidge said the donation
to the Taranaki Health Foundation (THF) will help complete the
state-of-the-art ICU, which is due to be opened in the third
quarter next year. “This is about helping the Taranaki Health
Foundation deliver a cutting-edge hospital that meets the
needs of the growing Taranaki region,” Cameron said.
RRT NZ Director Cameron Prestidge hands over $1.5 million
for the Rapid Relief Team ICU
“The support from locals has been incredible, and we are glad
we can make a combined, significant contribution to this new
ICU.
“When people have an emergency or need help after an
operation, this new facility will provide them with the very
best care.”
Taranaki Health Foundation’s General Manager, Adrian Sole
thanked RRT and local businesses for their support. “This
donation is going to go a long way to making sure we have a
hospital that is equipped to meet the community’s current and
future care needs,” Adrian said.
“Taranaki needs a state-of-the-art hospital, and it is fitting
that the community has rallied together to help make it
possible. We are very grateful to the Rapid Relief Team and
local individuals and businesses who’ve made this substantial
donation to improve the future health of our region.”
The announcement comes as RRT volunteers recognise
International Nurses Day with lunch provided to Taranaki Base
Hospital nurses.
“Nurses are the backbone of our health service, and this lunch
is a small way we can show our appreciation for their selfless
efforts,” said RRT New Plymouth Local Team Leader Ashley
Lawry.
Room to Dream
One of our major successes this year has been our Room to
Dream campaign. This is the opportunity for individuals or
businesses to sponsor specific rooms within the hospital.
Starting from $8,000 and ranging up to $75,000, there is
potential to raise around $3 million.
Having launched in early 2024, we have seen great interest
from many businesses and have had eight rooms sponsored so
far.
Donor
Room Type
Department
Value
Monkeytoe Group
Whānau Room
Maternity
$10,000
Eyre Family
Intensive Room
Neonatal
$75,000
Tui Ora
Whānau Room
ICU
$10,000
Chilcott Family
Specialist Room
Emergency
$25,000
Chilcott Family
Isolation Room
Cancer Centre
$15,000
24/7 Security Solutions
Whānau Room
Emergency
$10,000
Ron Gatenby
Acute Assesssment Room
Emergency
$15,000
Tui Ora
Whānau Room
Emergency
$10,000
Women's Lifestyle Expo
In order to fulfill our strategy of increasing our public
presence, it was decided we would exhibit at the Women’s
Lifestyle Expo, focusing on Maternity and Neonatal. There was
no expectation on fundraising, instead concentrating on
awareness and education.
Despite this passive approach, the incredible generosity of
the local people took us by surprise with
$1,091.45 being donated through multiple
small donations.
Christmas Wrapping
We partnered with Centre City for Christmas 2023, providing a
wrapping service for shoppers. With a suggested donation of
$5 we saw some amazing generosity. After an
incredibly busy Christmas Eve wrapping, the total amount donated
was $6,233.
We are in discussions with Centre City to formalise this
partnership for a period of several years.
Soroptimist Golf Day
The Soroptimist Club New Plymouth have been long-term
supporters of ours, with previous gifts with a previous
donation towards a Chemotherapy Chair. In November 2023 they
held a Golf Day that was intended to be an Ambrose
Tournament at Ngamotu Golf Club, followed by a BBQ and
Auction.
Unfortunately the weather had alternative ideas and the Golf
Tournament was rained off. Despite this, all but one team
still attended the golf club for a fantastic afternoon of
BBQ and drinks, and most importantly the auction could still
go ahead.
The day was a fantastic success, with a total of
$15,000
being donated back to the Taranaki Health Foundation for use
at the Taranaki Cancer Centre. This ties in with the
Soroptimist’s International focus on Ovarian Cancer.
Chemotherapy chairs
One key piece of equipment that has been available for
individuals or Businesses to purchase in the Taranaki Cancer
Centre is updated Chemotherapy Chairs. We previously purchased 4
Chemotherapy Chairs in 2019, and are aiming to find donors for
the remaining six chairs so every patient receiving Chemotherapy
treatment in Taranaki can be trea
As of July 2024, we have had five businesses commit to funding
these chairs
