214 days ago

Two and a half years on mental health ward - and why there’s nowhere else to go

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

A mental health patient spent nearly two and a half years in Hamilton’s Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre mental health facility, with Health NZ saying patients are getting more complex as it gets harder to find housing and support to discharge people.

The patient’s two years and 110 days stay in the 60-bed facility was revealed in data released under the Official Information Act and comes as a city homeless shelter says it feels under pressure to act as a mental health facility when people do get released.

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More messages from your neighbours
10 minutes ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 0% Yes! New Year, New Me
    0% Complete
  • 0% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    0% Complete
  • 0% Nah - not for me
    0% Complete
0 votes
6 hours ago

From rugged campsite to 7.5ha resort

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Grant Kilby has always loved camping. His mum was director of health at the YMCA, and he would attend YMCA camps in the school holidays. “I think it was mandatory that I was there,” he jokes.

He went on camping holidays with his parents, and later, took his own kids.
“Camping’s been in my blood.”

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7 days ago

Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!

Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?

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Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
  • 78.7% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
    78.7% Complete
  • 21.3% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
    21.3% Complete
1224 votes