Cancer Society Northland regional manager Charli Timms said 30 years’ experience running Domain Lodge has helped design the Northland facility, which will include communal kitchen and dining areas.
“It’s where people can come together and support each other in their journeys. It’s that extra level of support that helps get people through these tough times.”
Timms said a range of options were considered – such as a cheaper, second-hand motel or series of houses – but each would have been a compromise.
“We had an opportunity to purchase that land [on Hospital Rd] and be able to achieve exactly what we wanted in Northland.
“We didn’t want to compromise for Northlanders, they deserve better than that.”
The $22m raised shows the need for and support of the project, Timms said.
The walls are going up on the 20-bedroom Northland Patient Accommodation Lodge on Whangārei’s Hospital Rd, which Cancer Society Northland regional manager Charli Timms (inset) says will be life-changing for patients.
“The philanthropists and community groups have been incredible. The amount of money that was raised by the community – I’m blown away.”
With final project costs expected to be $22.5m to $23m, the Cancer Society was in the final stage of fundraising, with just under $1m still needed.
The lead contractor was Argon, the company that built the $60.9m radiation oncology unit, Timms said.
After significant earthworks, the lodge reached a milestone last week with lower walls starting to go up.
Timms said building work was expected to be completed by August 2027, with the lodge planned to open by the end of 2027.
Cancer survivor Walter Norman, who makes his own kānuka oil at his Te Hāpua home, says the new lodge will be great for patients like him.
Te Hāpua cancer patient Walter Norman believed the lodge would make a significant difference for future Northland patients.
The 80-year-old had to make long journeys away from home, family and community after his diagnosis, often leaving the country’s northernmost settlement at 3am for hospital appointments in Auckland.
Despite the challenges of travelling more than 400km to treatment, Norman was full of praise for how he was treated at Domain Lodge.
“I just couldn’t get over all the kindness that came from everyone there,” he said. “It gave me a bit of faith in humanity.”
Community members interested in supporting the lodge can go to northlandlodge.org.nz to find out more.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.