Funding target reached for D6 project

By Petrina Wright | Posted: Thursday February 20, 2025

A Hugo Charitable Trust donation of $50,000 has enabled Presbyterian Support Southland (PSS) to meet its funding target for an expansion project at the Iona dementia facility, Invercargill.

The $400,000 project involves creating six additional D6 psychogeriatric beds and other improvements to the dementia unit at Peacehaven Village for the most vulnerable of Southland’s elderly population.

Maryanne Green, the eldest daughter of Irish philanthropist and businessman the late Hugh Green, known in Ireland as Hugo, founded the Hugo Charitable Trust in 2017 to continue Hugh’s philanthropic legacy and to give back to the people of New Zealand. Since its inception, the Hugo Charitable Trust has donated over $19 million to charitable causes throughout the country.

PSS chief executive Matt Russell said the grant from the Hugo Charitable Trust not only covered the remaining funds needed to meet budget costs, but was also sufficient to meet the project’s unexpected cost overrun of just over $20,000.

“We are thrilled to report, thanks to the generosity of a significant number of contributors, the project is now fully funded.

“We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community for recognising the need and lending their support to this vital project.”

Contributions from other funders include ILT Foundation ($120,483), Stewart Family Charitable Trust ($26,300), PH Vickery Trust ($26,300), Guy Anson Waddel Charitable Trust ($26,300), Aotearoa Gaming Trust ($29,900) and several smaller trusts and individuals.

The Iona unit has two separate wings, one for less severely impacted dementia patients (known as D3), and the other for those requiring specialised hospital-level care (known as D6 psychogeriatric care), the highest level of dementia care available in New Zealand. PSS is the sole provider of psychogeriatric care in Southland.

“The upgrade of the Iona unit will go a long way towards meeting the increasing demand for dementia care and addressing the current lack of D6 beds in the region.

“Residents will be more likely able to access psychogeriatric care in Southland and remain closer to their families,” Mr Russell said.

Work to upgrade the Iona dementia unit began in August last year and is expected to be completed by the end of this month. (Feb)