Hospice Taranaki is on the lookout for new premises to accommodate its expanding retail operations in the eastern part of New Plymouth. The growing population and the increasing volume of donations received at the current Waiwhakaiho HospiceShop have led to a need for a larger location to better serve the community.
While the current shop has served the hospice well for years, there is now a need for more space to efficiently receive, process, and display donations. Ideally, the hospice hopes to remain in the Waiwhakaiho basin, around Katere Road or Hurlstone Drive, but is also open to exploring locations near the Bell Block commercial area.
The hospice’s requirements for a new site include 40 to 50 parking spaces, convenient access from major roads, and a covered area of 800 to 1,000 square metres. A suitable layout would allow for separate spaces for receiving donations, processing goods, and displaying items in a showroom. Hospice Taranaki is open to discussions with landlords or developers who have properties that broadly match these criteria.
Hospice Taranaki CEO Paul Lamb shared that they are flexible regarding the timing of the move but hope to secure a new site by early 2025. “We’re great tenants, and we pay rent on time,” Lamb said. “Our current site sees over 5,500 sales per month, attracting a steady stream of customers who also benefit other businesses in the area.”
The revenue generated by Hospice Taranaki’s retail arm is crucial for maintaining the hospice’s services, which include specialised palliative and end-of-life care for people across Taranaki. Over the past year, the hospice has conducted more than 19,000 home visits, handled over 13,000 phone calls, admitted more than 180 patients to their inpatient unit, and provided ongoing support to an average of 250 patients and their families.
As the only specialised palliative care service in the region, Te Kahu Pairuri Hospice Taranaki is entering its 32nd year of service. The retail shops play a vital role in sustaining these services, which are provided free of charge to the 630 new referrals the hospice receives each year.
Anyone with information about potential properties for lease that may meet Hospice Taranaki’s needs is encouraged to contact CEO Paul Lamb at paul.lamb@hospicetaranaki.org.nz.
