Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital |
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Sunset over Tokanui Hospital
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| Geography | |
| Location | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 38°3′46″S 175°19′40″E / 38.06278°S 175.32778°E |
| Organisation | |
| Hospital type | Specialist |
| Services | |
| Speciality | Psychiatric hospital |
| History | |
| Closed | March 1998 |
Tokanui Psychiatric Hospital was a special kind of hospital in New Zealand. It was located about 14 kilometers (9 miles) southeast of Te Awamutu. This hospital helped people with mental health conditions.
Contents
A Look at Tokanui Hospital's History
Tokanui Hospital first opened its doors in July 1912. It closed many years later in March 1998. The very first patients arrived by train from another hospital in Wellington.
In its early days, the hospital was like a small town. It had its own farm, a bakery, and a laundry. There was even a sewing room where clothes for patients were made. At its busiest, over a thousand patients lived there.
By the late 1960s, things started to change. In 1974, the government decided not to build more large mental hospitals. Instead, smaller mental health wards began opening in regular hospitals in cities.
Moving Towards Community Care
In the 1980s, there was a big shift around the world. The idea was to help people with mental health conditions live in their communities. This meant moving away from large hospitals. Many staff found it hard to believe the hospital would close. It had provided jobs for many families for generations.
Some patients had lived at Tokanui for many years. They saw the hospital as their home. Other patients stayed for shorter times. They might have been there for clinical depression or anxiety. These patients often felt lonely and missed their families.
The hospital served a very large area of New Zealand. This included places like New Plymouth and Gisborne. It also reached up towards Auckland and across to the Bay of Plenty. Because of the long distances, it was hard for families to visit. Over time, patients could become separated from their loved ones.
The Hospital's Closure
In the early 1990s, the hospital board started planning for the future. They set aside money to create homes in the community. These homes were for people with intellectual disabilities and long-term mental health needs. Two groups were formed to help with this.
The plan to close the hospital gained speed. By March 1998, the last long-term patient had moved out. They went to live in "Community care" instead.
The land where the hospital stood was originally taken for the hospital's use. Now, it is being held to be returned to its original owners. Many of the hospital buildings are still standing. However, some parts, like the Nurses Home, have been taken down.
There is a cemetery on the old hospital farm. Over 500 patients were buried there between 1912 and 1968. These patients were both Māori and European. After 1968, patients who could not afford a burial were laid to rest in the local Te Awamutu cemetery. Today, the farm is used for agricultural research. There is a special stone at the cemetery site to remember those buried there.
What is Tokanui Hospital Like Today?
The hospital farm was given over to agricultural research in the 1970s. The old hospital buildings are now empty and unused. Some areas have been fenced off for animals to graze.
About fifty staff houses are still rented out to people. The sewerage system that the hospital used to run is still working. It helps these homes, and the Waikato District Health Board manages it.
Safety at the Site
Most valuable things have been taken from the buildings. However, some materials that thieves might want are still there. None of the buildings have been fully taken down.
There are also health dangers, like asbestos insulation. Because of these risks, security guards watch the area all the time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
