Wellington philanthropists give up to $50 million for mental health care in Lower Hutt

He donated $50 million for the new children’s hospital in Wellington, now Mark Dunajtschik is giving another $40 to 50 million to build a mental health ward in Lower Hutt.

The money, donated by Dunajtschik and his business and life partner Dorothy Spotswood, will fund a new 34-bed adult mental health facility on the Hutt Hospital campus.

The Mark Dunajtschik Mental Health Center will replace the 24-bed Te Whare Ahuru – an existing facility on the hospital campus – and add ten extra beds for psychiatric patients.

Construction on the 3,500-square-foot unit being designed by CCM Architects is set to begin in June next year. The opening is expected in mid-2025.

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The 86-year-old philanthropist and property developer made the announcement after receiving the Tribute to a Wellington Icon Award at the Gold Awards at Wellington’s TSB Arena.

Dunajtschik said ahead of the event that he wanted to use his wealth for the good of the community.

“It’s a matter of judgment” [about] where the greatest need is.

“I read the newspaper religiously every night. There is a general awareness that mental health is a problem and anyone who has not noticed it cannot live with their eyes open.

“I’ve been lucky and lucky to make good money in life and I want to spend it in the community where I earned it.”

Dunajtschik is mostly a hands-on developer† He and Spotswood are a team of two who work every day on the smallest details of every aspect of a construction project.

However, they will only be financially involved in the GGZ.

He said the $40-$50 million was a “ballpark price,” to be confirmed on the final design and then with construction company McKee Fehl.

The concept for the unit has been running for about a year, he said. About six weeks ago, an agreement was signed with the Ministry of Health to allow the project to go ahead.

The government had earmarked $30 million to replace Te Whare Ahuru with a modern facility of the same size, but Dunajtschik’s contribution meant the amount could be redistributed to other mental health projects across the country, Health Minister Andrew Little said. .

“This latest contribution will not only benefit the Wellington region, but will also have knock-on benefits for the rest of the country as the balance of government funding earmarked for the Hutt Valley unit can go towards other projects.

“We can all be incredibly grateful for the extraordinary philanthropy of Mr Dunajtschik who made New Zealand his home years ago. He has managed to do business and now wants to give something back to this country.

Little, who was unable to attend the Gold Awards because he has Covid-19, said he had previously thanked Dunajtschik for this donation and for the $50 million he has already donated to the new children’s hospital for Wellington.

Aside from Te Wao Nui Children’s Hospital, Dunajtschik and Spotswood have flown under the radar with much of their philanthropy over the years.

The multimillionaires started the helicopter rescue service Life Flight Trust in 1975 and funded it for a decade before a commercial sponsor came on board. Wellington Free Ambulance and the Graeme Dingle Foundation are beneficiaries of their philanthropy, among many other charities.

Ahead of last night’s Gold Awards event, Dunajtschik, a native of the former Yugoslavia, took his February 1957 Immigration Response to his application for a visa to come to New Zealand.

The answer was a three-line letter.

“It read: ‘The ministry has considered your request to emigrate to New Zealand.’ For the past 64 years I have striven to show my appreciation for the favorable consideration of the Ministry.”

The detail

• The adult mental health unit costs about $40-$50 million.

• The 34-bed mental health unit would be a two-level low-rise building.

• Construction will start in mid 2023.

• The unit is expected to open in mid-2025

• Demolition of Pilmuir Building on the Hutt Hospital campus is scheduled to begin later this year.

• Dunajtschik and Spotswood have already contributed $50 million to the Children’s Hospital/Te Wao Nui set to open in late 2022.