The Kawakawa Medical Centre on Rayner Street in Kawakawa will be closed for repair after the building was partially damaged in the weekend by a fire.
A Ngāti Hine Health Trust van was broken into and deliberately parked near the building before being set alight in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Fire and Emergency Services were quick to attend the scene which minimised further damage to the building and its surrounds.
No-one was hurt in Sunday morning’s incident however it is being treated as suspicious and is under investigation by police.
Ngāti Hine Health Trust CEO, Geoff Milner says while this event is disappointing and a distraction, especially for the team that work day-in and day-out at Kawakawa Medical Centre, it’s just another challenge for Ngāti Hine Health Trust to deal with.
“2020 has already been a remarkably challenging year for our communities with the onset of Covid-19. I’m extremely grateful for our Ngāti Hine Health Trust team who have consistently shown great resilience and manaakitanga, particularly during these trying times, by being whānau-focussed and finding solutions to continue to deliver services to our whānau.”
The Kawakawa Medical Centre staff have temporarily relocated their services to 2 Vogel Street in an effort to open its doors to the community by Tuesday morning. GP services will be available and appointments can be made by contacting the medical centre on 0800 200 562 or 09 404 0241.
Insurance assessments and repairs are underway on the damaged building but it would be some time before it was fully operational again.
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For media interviews:
Geoff Milner
CEO - Ngāti Hine Health Trust
Phone: 027 535 6646
For further enquiries:
Erana Fenton
Phone: 021 0868 5232
Email: media@nhht.co.nz
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