Christchurch is preparing to open a new hospice, built entirely with $10 million raised by the community.
The result is a modern, purpose-built facility designed to support patients and their families through end-of-life care.
One of those families has given back.
Sarah Carr lost her husband Kevin 'Chalky' Carr to cancer eight years ago, after spending his final days in the old Nurse Maude Hospice building.
Sarah Carr said: "Its a pretty traumatic time when your loved one is moving towards the inevitable death so to have someone basically hold your hand and look after you and look after your loved one is such a relief."
Before the All Black logistics manager's death, the couple set up the Chalky Carr Trust to raise $500,000 funds for other people with cancer.
In 2017, Chalky told his wife: "Always, somewhere in the world, there was someone worse off than me."
"So that added to me being able to get through those dark times and be able to contribute," Sarah said.
When the trust wound up, the remainder of its funds were put towards the hospice that took such good care of them and their wider family.
Nurse Maude director of medicine Dr Julia Holyoake, who helped support the family, said the building is new but the care being delivered will to be exactly the same, "just enhanced by this amazing new premises".
The facility includes dedicated spaces for adults, children and their whānau – ensuring patients of all ages can receive specialist care in a warm, family-focused environment.
Among its unique features are purpose-built facilities for children receiving palliative care, including age-appropriate bedrooms, technology to stay connected with friends and family, and accommodation that allows families to remain close and stay overnight.
Nurse Maude chief executive officer Louise Zacest said the new hospice is expected to care for up to 1100 people a year. She said funding is always an issue.
"We expect the number of people who do pass away is going to more or less double over the next few decades so that will put pressure on services."
In a statement, Health Minister Simeon Brown told 1News: "The Government is committed to strengthening hospice services, so communities can access consistent, quality care when they most need it. Hospice funding increased by 3% in Budget 2025, with funding for the year ahead to be confirmed shortly.”
The new hospice opens its doors to patients next Wednesday, when people will receive the same love and care as the past 130 years since Nurse Maude opened the first facility of its kind in Christchurch.
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