{"id":415725,"date":"2026-05-07T05:23:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T05:23:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/415725\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T05:23:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T05:23:07","slug":"hospice-bushwalk-gives-northland-patients-healing-in-nature-on-the-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/415725\/","title":{"rendered":"Hospice bushwalk gives Northland patients healing in nature – On The Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

The project was about helping patients and supporting hospice\u2019s work<\/a>, said Mitre 10 MEGA Whang\u0101rei owners Amy Christenson and Ben Lowe.<\/p>\n

\u201cNorth Haven Hospice touches literally everyone,\u201d Christenson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, this is a way to reach well beyond just the scope of this building … It gives opportunity for respite beyond just healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each year, North Haven Hospice helps 850 to 900 end-of-life patients and their families<\/a>, said acting chief executive Dr Warrick Jones.<\/p>\n

While most palliative care occurs in patients\u2019 homes<\/a>, the Tikipunga centre offers short-term respite for patients across Northland, plus day programmes and out-patient appointments, he said.<\/p>\n

The new bush area provides a peaceful, lush environment for patients, families and staff, Jones said.<\/p>\n

\"NorthNorth Haven Hospice kaum\u0101tua Dave Coyne (centre) officially blesses the area on Wednesday. Photo \/ Denise Piper<\/p>\n

\u201cIt creates a safe place, even while life collapses around them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The area was inspired by a late hospice patient who wanted to get out into the bush despite being bed-bound.<\/p>\n

It was officially blessed with a ceremony on Wednesday, when a burst of rain put the shelters to the test.<\/p>\n

North Haven Hospice patient Phyllis Blagrove said it was marvellous to see the finished project.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will certainly bring a smile to lots of people\u2019s faces,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Christenson said Northlanders got behind the project, including Mitre 10 MEGA Whang\u0101rei staff who did the work, Clays Concrete, Freeman Roofing, Padden Builders, NJM Builders, Wilson Builders and Ecko.<\/p>\n

North Haven Hospice must raise $12,000 a week to remain free<\/a> to the community, so was unable to fund the project itself.<\/p>\n

The North Haven Hospice project was one of several community initiatives supported by Mitre 10 MEGA Whang\u0101rei<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The store was also the principal sponsor of the inaugural Mission at the Marina fundraiser for the Northern Rescue Helicopter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Mitre 10 MEGA Whang\u0101rei Mission at the Marina over the weekend included a chance for people to see inside the rescue helicopters. Photo \/ Tracey Morris Photography<\/p>\n

Held at Tutuk\u0101k\u0101 on Saturday, the event raised more than $67,000 for the rescue service, which needs to raise $1.3 million each year to keep operating.<\/p>\n

More than 150 people took part in the three-course meal and auction.<\/p>\n

Christenson said the store\u2019s owners and 110 staff cared deeply about the community where they worked and lived, and wanted to contribute by helping charities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to be able to meet the needs of the community and make it a great place to live and play,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Lowe said the store worked to find projects that fitted with its skills. It also supported Enviroschools<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Denise Piper is a news reporter<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The project was about helping patients and supporting hospice\u2019s work, said Mitre 10 MEGA Whang\u0101rei owners Amy Christenson…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":415726,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[115849,16651,213784,20733,1905,134,527,30538,23600,3192,78,2061,111,139,1067,11225,69,90,6293,46767,683,14040,30331,223,2044,810,34890,102],"class_list":["post-415725","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-healthcare","tag-accessible","tag-bush","tag-bushwalk","tag-gives","tag-healing","tag-health","tag-healthcare","tag-helping","tag-hospice","tag-illness","tag-in","tag-nature","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-northland","tag-northlanders","tag-nz","tag-on","tag-patients","tag-seating","tag-sheltered","tag-spend","tag-terminal","tag-the","tag-time","tag-up","tag-walk","tag-with"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415725","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=415725"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415725\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/415726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=415725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=415725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=415725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}