Great Barrier Island will celebrate two significant milestones on Saturday, April 12, with the opening of the Community Health Centre’s new wing and the retirement of beloved nurses Leonie Howie and Adele Robertson.
The event begins at 1:00 pm at the Health Centre, marking the official opening of the new wing. Funded through a generous donation by the Awana Rural Women of NZ, the expansion features additional consulting rooms, a telemedicine room, and vital storage space, addressing the island’s rapidly growing healthcare needs. Steve Kendall, Chair of the GBI Community Health Trust, previously noted that the Centre was “bursting at its seams,” highlighting the importance of this expansion for both patients and healthcare providers.
Following the opening, celebrations will continue at the Claris Club at 2:30 pm to honor the retirement of Leonie and Adele, who have dedicated nearly four decades of service to the island’s healthcare.
Community members warmly expressed their gratitude and admiration for the nurses. Shane Harris described the retirement as the “end of an era,” commending their “well-earned retirement.” Carley Allinson celebrated their “outstanding jobs,” encouraging them to “go have some fun now!” Roger Bright praised the duo for “continually improving the fantastic service they provide,” while Marea Gorter acknowledged their “amazing service to the community for decades.”
Leonie and Adele have been central figures in the island’s medical care, often working under challenging circumstances with limited resources.
The challenges of remote healthcare were evident, such as the night a teenage girl rolled a car into a bank on Christmas Eve. “I knew that just about everybody was drunk, so I didn’t quite know who to call,” Adele recalled. Eventually, she gathered help from two sober residents and fishermen to successfully rescue the girl.
Leonie also shared lighter moments, including a humorous encounter at a petrol pump: “We had this very enthusiastic patient who’d just come back from Auckland and had a hernia operation in his groin. And he just wanted to show me and the kids as well as Ivan, just how wonderful his scar was looking.”
Their replacements, Tania Kemp and her husband from Rēkohu/Wharekauri (Chatham Islands), were hand-picked by Adele and Leonie, ensuring a smooth transition and the continued quality care for which Aotea Health is known.
Residents are encouraged to bring a plate of finger food to share at the Claris Club celebration, joining in recognizing these two exceptional women and their decades-long legacy of care, dedication, and compassion.
