Rotorua Community Hospice's new chief executive welcomed

A new era for Rotorua Community Hospice has begun with its new chief executive welcomed into the role.

Jonathon Hagger was welcomed with a pōhiri and morning tea at the Rotorua Hospice building on Monday morning.

Jonathon says he is looking forward to joining the team and working with them all to make hospice the charity of choice for Rotorua.

He says his goal is to provide a listener to the needs of the community, staff and stakeholders.

"I am aware of the love and support the trust gives to the local community."

He says Rotorua Community Hospice is a great organisation because of the care and support it provides at the end of someone's life.

"It's a very sensitive and emotional time. Hospice is there to support both the patient and the family around them."

He says the hospice nurses are there to help explain phases and guide the family which is important.

"It can be a very scary time if you don't know what is happening."

Jonathon was previously the Student Pulse general manager at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, which is the institute's student representative association.

He says he is equally nervous and excited to start his new role at Rotorua Hospice.

"I was fortunate to be able to go to the national hospice conference held about three weeks ago, so that acted as an induction programme."

He says there is also a number of staff at Rotorua Hospice he has worked with previously through the institute, so there are some relationships already there.

Rotorua Community Hospice chairman Fraser Wood says they are excited to welcome Jonathon to be part of the hospice team, and are looking forward to a new era in hospice work.

"He brings with him a really great skill set to lead hospice into the future, and both the Board of Trustees and staff are excited about the future hospice."