Phone 420 8747

Mission: "To provide an appropriate community representative forum and legal entity to facilitate health initiatives for the people of the Helensville District."

The Helensville District Health Trust operates a number of services for the Helensville community and surrounding area, from a birthing centre to computer classes.

We are a multi-faceted centre for community health and education. Working with organisations including Waitemata Health, the Ministry of Health, FOCUS 2000, the Rodney Community Learning Centre and the Mt Tabor Trust, the Helensville Community Health Centre provides an outstanding level of care for our community.

The Helensville District Health Trust comprises a Board of 12 health and management professionals (listed below) who are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of our community. The purchase in 1999 of our Commercial Road property has ensured the continuity of provision of existing health services and the introduction of new providers.

The Trust was formed in 1989 in response to community concern over the threatened closure of the Helensville Maternity Hospital. The immediate result was the establishment of our successful birthing centre the same year. After purchase of the historic health property a decade later, the Trust has successfully transformed the old hospital into a viable and successful model for integrated rural community health.

THE TRUSTEES:

Alison McKenzie (chair)
Having lived and farmed in the area for over 40 years, Alison is a well-known and respected community figure. She chaired the working party to keep maternity services available in the Helensville area, and her work was directly responsible for the establishment of the birthing centre. She was awarded the NZ Order of Merit for her contribution to the people of Helensville District.

Dianne Kidd (founding member)
Dianne has been part of the local community for 30 years. Having spent a large part of her career in the education and finance sectors, she brings a wealth of experience to the Trust. Dianne has been employed by the ASB Group for the last eight years.

Ian Amoore
Ian is the trustee responsible for the property portfolio. Resident for more than 30 years, and a retired senior local veterinarian, Ian has made significant contributions to a number of local community organisations including the Helensville Lions, Helensville Presbyterian Support and the Helensville Home and School. He served two terms as a borough councillor.

Richard Te Whanaupani Nahi
Richard is the trustee responsible for Maori health. He is a Kaumatua for Hau ora Wai Awhina and also on the Kohanganui O te Runanga O Ngati Whatua. Richard began work in this area with the Auckland Area Health Board in 1990, and he is currently with the Waitemata District Health Board. He has been a Trust member for more than eight years.

Meegan Michel
Meegan's 30-year career as an executive PA has given her broad experience in many sectors of commerce and industry, most recently as PA to the CEO of the NZ Blood Service. She has had over seven years experience as a volunteer telephone counsellor, trainer and supervision group leader with Lifeline. Meegan joined the Trust when she moved to the area four years ago as a way to become involved in her chosen community.

John Hildreth
John joined the Trust in August 2004. After traveling overseas John returned to New Zealand in 1978 and attended Massey University, completing a Bachelor of Agricultural Science Degree, and has worked in a variety of organizations, primarily in the agriculture industry, most recently overseeing operations at Gourmet Paprika Glasshouses in Woodhill. John is also a member of Woodhill School Board of Trustees, as well as a member of the Helensville A. & P. Show committee. John is married, with two children.

Sally Garrod
Sally is a Public Trustee (community representative) and has lived in the Helensville area for over 16 years. Having worked at the North Shore Hospital post-natal ward, she trained as a midwife in 1986. She has worked part-time as a midwife at Waitakere Hospital, and for the past year as an on-call midwife at the Helensville Birthing Centre.

Airini Stoney
Airini is a newly appointed Public Trustee (community representative), and has lived in the area for 40 years. She is a Registered Nurse, and has spent 30 years in Operating Theatre Nursing, Obstetrics and Aged Care. Airini is a life member of Helensville C.A.B. and was a trainer there for 12 years.

Andrew Connolly
Andrew is a newly appointed Public Trustee (community representative), and is married to Susannah and has two teenage children. He returned to the district ten years ago having lived in squatter communities in Manila, and then studied in West Auckland. He is a founding member of the South Kaipara Men’s Trust and currently coordinates and works as a counsellor at the Men and Family Centre based in Helensville.

Linda Harun
Linda is the General Manager, Child Women and Family Services of the Waitemata District Health Board, and is the Waitemata Health representative on the Trust.

Charm Torrance MNZM
Manager of the Helensville District Health Trust.
Charm has extensive experience as a consultant in the health sector, both in New Zealand and overseas. She was awarded the NZ Order of Merit for her services to nursing during a period of work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She is also a registered midwife.

June King
Assistant Trust Manager.
June is also the rural home care co-ordinator for Focus Nor'West, where she co-ordinates home care workers with clients needing help in their homes.

Gail Clews
Secretary
Gail has worked for the Trust in her role as secretary since 1993, with a short break to travel overseas last year. Gail worked at a local primary school for several years as the treasurer and was the secretary of the district racing club, and is currently the Principal’s secretary at a private school on the Whangaparaoa.

Helensville District Health Trust

53-65 Commercial Road, Helensville
(at the Community Health Centre)
Phone: 09 420 8747
Fax: 09 420 7599

Click here for information on the Helensville Birthing Centre.

Click here for information on the Kaipara Medical Centre.