A new health foundation is being established in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Community leaders gathered on Thursday to launch the Western Bay of Plenty Health Foundation.

Guests heard that the Foundation’s charitable objective is to identify and support health and wellbeing outcomes including new facilities and equipment, patient care and support services, health education and training, and any other extra services and critical projects that are identified by the Trust.

Foundation Chair and former CEO of the Bay of Plenty DHB Pete Chandler says that this is a momentous step change for the Western Bay of Plenty community.

“Most other cities in Aotearoa have a health foundation to help deliver community-initiated health outcomes that may not otherwise happen in a timely manner, and so we have been thinking about this for some time in Tauranga," says Pete.

“The Foundation model allows those in the community to make bequeaths or gifts in their lifetime, and as Trustees, we are very much focused on understanding donor objectives and priorities, so we can honour their wishes accordingly.”

As part of the Foundation’s launch celebrations, local philanthropist Chloe Wright announced an inaugural gift of $1 million from the Wright Family Foundation to be put toward the fitout of the Te Waka Aorangi building. She was also announced as the Patron of the Foundation.

Speaking on behalf of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty Hospital Specialist Services Lead Sarah Mitchell says that the gift of $1 million was of huge significance to the entity.

“Essentially, it means that we can approach the fitout as a single stage project and bring forward the opening date by many months. It also means we can commission a dedicated child audiology suite and have this operational in the building from day one. As a community, we are hugely grateful to the Wright family for their gift.”

The launch was held at the new Te Waka Aorangi building which is to be home of the award-winning Child Health Integrated Response Pathways (CHIRP) services.

For more information on the Western Bay of Plenty Health Foundation, email info@wbophf.org.nz