Abbeyfield New Zealand
The concept of Abbeyfield was introduced to New Zealand in 1991 by Dr Ted Bassett, a Wakefield GP, who had travelled to the United Kingdom to look for housing solutions to the increasing ageing population in Nelson.
Nelson was the venue for the 9th Abbeyfield International Convention and is the 'birthplace' of Abbeyfield in New Zealand. The national society has an office and one staff member in Nelson City; and the City is the location of New Zealand's first Abbeyfield house, which opened in May 1994. The local Abbeyfield Society in Nelson is the first Society in New Zealand to operate two Abbeyfield houses with it’s second house opened in August 2010.
By the end of 2010 there will be twelve houses in New Zealand, and fourteen affiliated local societies (Whangarei, Nelson, Masterton, Motueka, Golden Bay, Queenstown, Dunedin, Waikato, Palmerston North, Kaeo, Auckland, Christchurch, Westport and Greymouth) and four steering committees developing projects (Wanganui, Kapiti, Ellesmere and Porirua).
For further information contact:
Mr Chris Armstrong
Abbeyfield New Zealand
PO Box 482
200 Hardy Street
Nelson
New Zealand
Tel: (64) 3 546 6459 Fax: (64)3 546-6210
e-mail: office@abbeyfield.org.nz
website: www.abbeyfield.org.nz
The future:
Current operating houses: Twelve, in Hamilton, Nelson (2), Masterton, Whangarei, Motueka, Auckland, Golden Bay, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Kaeo and Wakatipu
Planned: Societies are working towards more houses in Greymouth, Westport and Christchurch and opportunities for new Societies have been identified in Wanganui, Ellesmere and Kapiti.
New Zealand continues to actively explore alternative funding strategies: successfully partnering with local Government, the national Housing provider and other charitable organisations (e.g Returned Servicemen's Association) to develop projects. Abbeyfield New Zealand also successfully completed a house in Whangarei based on residents contributions providing construction capital in return for licenses to occupy suites in the completed house. This house is finding it difficult to attract new residents as the world-wide economic downturn suppresses property values and this type of funding model is not one that will be encouraged in other areas of New Zealand.
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