It was dubbed the CHB Disability Resource Centre and was based at the old Waipukurau hospital in the Paul Hunter ward.
The name change came about when the centre was moved to its current premises — the old Waipukurau police station in River Terrace. After approaching the Hunter family, it was decided to be renamed the Paul Hunter Centre.
Paul Hunter Centre clients come from throughout CHB and the centre has two fulltime staff, five part-time staff and a group of seven volunteers who support the clients to lead everyday lives. The centre is governed by a group of eight executive committee members, comprising staff, family, client representatives and members of the community.
The main objective of the Paul Hunter Centre is to enable people to have a good life — to participate in activities, services, and facilities that are part of the daily lives of New Zealanders.
Cooking, interacting with people in the community, arts and crafts, sports, going to the gym, and digital technology are just some of what the centre offers, and community participation usually has clients linking with other local services for sporting and social activities.
"With the concerns around Covid, a lot of our outings and visits have been put on hold, so art and crafts and things we can do within the centre have become very important to us," Katrina says.
"It was a matter of taking what the clients enjoyed the most ... and doing more of them. So we're doing a lot of art and craft and singing.
"Art brings a lot of joy, our clients love it, they talk and laugh and when they have finished a piece of work it is displayed at the centre until they decide to take it home, or it's filed away until we get to show the works in a public space. We have some very talented people at the centre, it's interesting how everyone's interpretations are so different.
"We hope that lots of people go along to see our Paul Hunter Centre exhibition, and that they enjoy it as much as our artists enjoyed creating it."
Art from Paul Hunter Centre — exhibiting from March 14 to June 14 at the CHB Museum, High St, Waipawa.
What: Paul Hunter Centre Paintings and Clay Exhibition
Where: CHB Museum, High St Waipawa
When: March 14 until June 14, every day from 10am-4pm.