Our History 

Kamo Home had its beginnings in 1969 when a group of prominent Whangarei citizens recognised the evolving residential care needs of Whangarei's older citizens. At the time church based social service organisations were being encouraged with government subsidies to develop local aged care facilities, and a fund raising committee was established.

The land at Ford Avenue was purchased by Jack and Alice Court, $100,000 was quickly raised, grants were received from the Presbyterian and Methodist churches and together with the 50 percent government subsidy, the $274,000 complex was opened in 1972.

The initial configuration was 20 rest home beds in two wings with residential staff quarters and Shelagh Mason was appointed as the first matron. Shelagh oversaw the further development of 20 more rest home beds, a 20 bed dementia wing (Alice Court) and twenty four cottage units before she retired in 1987.

Shelagh continued as a trustee for a number of years and was the first resident of the newly opened Tuatara Court apartments in 2007. She lived at Kamo Home until her celestial departure in 2017 aged 104. The Shelagh Mason hospital wing was opened in 2013.

During its first 25 years, Kamo Home operated under the auspices of Auckland Methodist Mission but governed by a local Board of Management. In 1997, Kamo Home and Village Charitable Trust was constituted as an independent charitable trust under a Board of Trustees appointed by Churches Together in Northland, but with representation of Methodist Mission and Presbyterian Support.

The mission statement “In the spirit of practical Christianity, helping people keep quality in their lives” was identified and in subsequent years, 5 more cottages have been built, a 10 unit independent apartment wing added in 2007, a new 20 bed hospital wing established in 2013 and the Trust won the Chamber of Commerce overall business excellence award that same year. Over the years the original buildings at Ford Avenue have been added to, reconfigured, refurbished, modernised and future proofed, such that there is little further room to develop other than upwards.

In 2016, the defunct Mountain View Rest Home at Maungatapere was purchased, renovated and re-established as a 19 bed rest home and in 2017, the 25 bed rest home, Parahaki Court in Kensington was purchased, making Kamo Home and Village Charitable Trust the largest provider of residential aged care in Whangarei.

In 2019, the old St Mary’s Hospital site in Onerahi was purchased as potential "green-fields" development to meet the evolving residential aged care needs of the Onerahi and Whangarei communities.

KHVCT is proud of its history and the story and mission continues!!!