Martinborough's new health centre officially open

A new day has dawned on Martinborough's health services, with the opening of a building built by Wairarapa hands.
Healthy numbers gathered at the new Martinborough Health Centre yesterday, hopefully closing the door on a history of problems with doctor retention and high fees, Primary Care Services WIPA (Wellington Independent Practitioners Association) general manager Joe Howells said.
"It's probably too early to say but the vibe is that it is an amazing success story. These guys are certainly at the forefront," he said.
Martinborough's only general practitioner Pete Morrison resigned in 2003 because running a doctor's surgery from the provincial town was unviable, Mr Howells said.
He expects that building the community-owned health facility, coupled with annual Government funding of more than $200,000 for doctors and nurses through the Primary Health Care Strategy, will mean the people of Martinborough will get the best healthcare possible. Among those who spoke at the opening of the $600,000 Martinborough Health Centre were South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples, Wairarapa Primary Health Organisation chairwoman Elaine Brazendale, Ruamahanga Health Trust chairman Ro Griffiths and long-term resident Richard Riddiford.
"It's been a remarkable project in that it's been delivered on time and under budget, which not many projects are," Mr Riddiford said.
Mr Griffiths thanked all those who helped with the project, originally raised as a viable option for health provision in June 2004, including the Lions for leasing the land for a "small rental", Architecture Workshop, who designed the building, and Shane Hartnell and his team who worked "long hours, nights and weekends", to get the project done in "record time".
"Not only did we raise the money locally, but the building has been constructed with local hands. That really makes it a community project.
"So many of you have helped in so many way to bring this project to fruition a tremendous achievement, which demonstrates the resolve and commitment to a cause when the community needs to take action."
Joan Gibson and Noeline White, two Martinborough residents who lobbied for the centre with a petition in 2004, cut the ribbon and on conclusion people filed into the new building to the sounds of blues music by Wairarapa group The Restoration Project.
Coincidentally, two Masterton doctors were among those invited to provide background music, including Rob Maunsell and David Nixon. The celebrations ended with a morning tea at the Lions building beside the centre provided by Lionesses, Playcentre mothers and Plunket members.
Margaret Parkinson, stopped as she left through the double doors of the new centre yesterday, is convinced that such a centre will benefit Martinborough in a big way because everybody, whether they're farmers or a winemakers, needs to go to the doctor.
"I think it's a great asset for Martinborough. A project like this brings people together."