A bold fundraising effort by Māia Health Foundation has come to fruition with the official opening of Kahurangi, a purpose-built child, adolescent, and family outpatient facility in Christchurch.
The state-of-the-art facility, opened today by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey, will provide mental health services for young people up to 18 years old.
Kahurangi, meaning “blue skies,” replaces outdated facilities at The Princess Margaret Hospital and Hillmorton.
“Today is a proud day for Māia Health Foundation and for every Cantabrian who has walked alongside us over the last five years to bring this facility to life,” said Māia Health Foundation Chair, Garth Gallaway. “Thank you, Canterbury—you did it!”
Maia Chair Garth Gallaway_and Matt_Doocey tour Kahurangi with staff from CAF service / Supplied
The journey to Kahurangi began five years ago when Māia Health Foundation committed to raising $6 million after learning that funding for a new inpatient facility did not include outpatient services.
“I’d be lying if I said we weren’t daunted by the task ahead of us,” said Gallaway. “Six million is an enormous amount of money, but the need in our community was equally enormous. We had faith that the Canterbury community would join us, and that’s exactly what happened. It’s phenomenal.”
The new facility will support the Canterbury Child, Adolescent, and Family (CAF) service, which treats around 640 young people every month. Demand for youth mental health services has grown significantly in recent years, with a 157% increase in clinical interactions over the past decade and a 36% rise in emergency assessments between 2020 and 2023.
CAF Service Manager Deborah Selwood said “This building is stunning and designed with our young people in mind, incorporating their views to create a therapeutic space.”
Selwood added that the facility’s single location will improve clinical efficiencies by eliminating the need for staff to travel between sites. “It’s going to make an enormously positive impact on the care and experience we can provide our young people.”
The New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) contributed $1 million, while the Rātā Foundation provided $500,000 during the final stages of fundraising.
Gallaway said the project represents a significant milestone for youth mental health in New Zealand and sets a new standard for mental health facility design.
“This incredible facility is going to positively impact the health of our young people and community for generations to come,” he said. “It’s taken five years of pure grit and determination, but seeing Kahurangi open and ready to welcome tamariki and rangatahi is very special.”
Kahurangi is now open on the outskirts of the Hillmorton campus,
