Iwi Invest To Build New Masterton Medical Centre
Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua has confirmed its purchase of the old Masterton Hospital site and an agreement with Masterton Medical to build a new medical centre.
The healthcare facility will be adjacent to Masterton Medical's current premises, behind Wairarapa Hospital on Te Ore Ore Road in Masterton.
Settlement Trust Chair, Paora Ammunson, said the deal has been a long time coming.
'I want to acknowledge our investment team, led by Andrew Watters, who have been working on this purchase for quite some time.
'We're thrilled to now confirm our investment, which will help to uplift the Wairarapa region,' he said.
'Our commercial partnership with Masterton Medical is a build-to-rent agreement, and we will work together to ensure the new building is welcoming to all, fit for purpose and cost-effective.'
Trustee and Te Ore Ore Marae hapū karanga representative, Huria Robens, acknowledged the crucial role that mana whenua will play as kaitiaki of the site.
'We will involve mana whenua on appropriate tikanga at each stage of the build,' she said.
Masterton Medical is one of the largest medical centres of its kind in New Zealand and has been living in temporary premises since 2014 following a fire at its Lincoln Road base.
'We are so excited to finally be planning our new building,' Masterton Medical General Manager, Robyn Wilson, said.
'It will be purpose-built to facilitate our model of healthcare, which is driven by patient flow and continuity of care.'
The new centre will house all services already available to patients including the pharmacy, health coach and health improvement practitioner.
Investment Trust Chair, Andrew Watters, confirmed the iwi purchased the 8.7 hectare site from the Crown, and said the medical centre will occupy about one hectare.
'We will be working through how to develop the balance of the land over the coming years,' he said.
'Our decisions are made with careful consideration for the long-term, and all future development will require strong business cases, a solid plan, and tenants that fit within our investment policy, like we have achieved with Masterton Medical.'
Wairarapa-based Concept Construction is the lead contractor for the project, and local developer David Borman is providing expertise.
The Investment Trust says it will determine further procurement based on supplier diversity and values-alignment.
Masterton Medical Board Chairman, Bob Francis, said the partnership with Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua is a great outcome for both parties.
'We are really excited to firm up a new and permanent home and to do so with local iwi is a tremendous outcome for us all,' Mr Francis said.
The timeline for construction of the new medical centre is currently being finalised.
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