Selwyn Foundation Buys Roskill’s Masonic Village

2 September 2005

Selwyn Foundation Buys Mt Roskill’s Masonic Village

Selwyn Foundation (and its wholly owned company Selwyn Heights Retirement Village Limited) is purchasing Mt Roskill’s Masonic Village, for an undisclosed sum. The unconditional deal is due for settlement on 1 November 2005.

Selwyn Foundation is the largest not for profit aged care charity in New Zealand. The organisation is an independent charity and part of the Anglican Church. It is also very significant in size when compared with private and listed participants.

“We are delighted to be buying this excellent facility,” said Selwyn’s CEO Rev. Duncan Macdonald. “It is part of our mission and philosophy to provide quality care for the aged. We believe in service to elderly people, and the residents can be assured that our purchase will mean continued delivery of wellness, care and independence.”

Rev. Macdonald says that the changes to the Masonic Village will be improvements, including the likelihood that more facilities will be built on site.

“People matter to us, just as they have mattered to the current owners of the Masonic Village,” he said. “We look forward to working with the people who live here, and their families, to develop and deliver new services and facilities in the future.”

Selwyn Foundation owns Selwyn Village (Pt Chevalier), Selwyn Oaks (Papakura), and Selwyn Park (Whangarei). It also provides management services to other resthomes, retirement villages and hospitals in New Zealand, including Gracedale Hospital and St Andrews Village Trust.

Chief Executive of Masonic Village Paul Heeney said the purchase was excellent for the village.

“Selwyn Foundation is a dedicated aged care provider, with an outstanding reputation and very strong management skills,” he said. “It couldn’t be better for the people here, because it indicates stability and genuine care ahead despite on-going funding constraints.”

Both Mr Heeney and Rev. Macdonald said aggregation of aged care facilities and assets was one way to rationalise costs, while still delivering services well.

“Technology is also allowing us to leverage efficiency, in the face of rising costs,” said Rev. Macdonald.

The 5.1 hectare Masonic Village complex, which was built in 1960, includes 46 retirement units, a 117 bed resthome and a 92-bed hospital. The proceeds from the sale would go back to the Freemasons, who own it, and be used for charitable purposes.

ENDS

© Scoop Media