Arohanui Hospice

I was privileged to have a tour around Arohanui Hospice this morning with Adrian Broad. I frequently walk and drive past the hospice and have been curious about all the building activity which can been seen from both Heretaunga Street and Tremaine Ave.

This hospice was started as a community initiative in 1991 and is still heavily reliant on the many volunteers - 270 of them I understand. I am not sure quite what I expected, but I did have some trepidation when I walked in the front door, I guess this comes from knowing what services a hospice provides and after having so much personal grief in my own life I am now reluctant to deliberately expose myself to other’s grief. However, far from being a sad or overtly solemn place, the hospice exhibits a friendly, supportive environment. The new additions are taking shape and will add much-needed room to the existing building. I came away feeling very humbled by the dedication and commitment of the many volunteers and staff who work at Arohanui, and by the community support which keeps it running year after year. I guess its name, Arohanui, says it all.