Waiho raa kia tuu takitahi ana ngaa whetuu o te rangi
Let it be one alone that stands among the stars
This year we are proud to celebrate 75 years since Middlemore Hospital first opened its doors in service to our community, and over this time, Middlemore's leadership, impact, and reach has been immense.
In lockstep with our Mana Whenua partners, we are ready to embrace the challenges of an evolving health system with a commitment to deliver equity, impact and excellence for our communities via the highest quality facilities, services and staff for the next 75 years.
That Middlemore was born from a 300-bed military hospital - intended to accommodate injured and sick United States military personnel serving in the Pacific – before opening to the public in 1947 speaks of humble beginnings in uncertain times.
However, as Esme Montgomery nee Green, the first nursing graduate at Middlemore Hospital, said: "...from that time of uncertainty, promise was born".
Middlemore has made good on this promise, transitioning into a tertiary level hospital facility that is serviced by the busiest Emergency Department in the southern hemisphere, which has a world-renowned plastic surgery and burns centre, boasts a leading spinal unit, as well as award-winning mental health facilities, within an organisation that serves the health needs of over half a million people.
Counties Manukau Health Acting Chief Executive, Dr Pete Watson, says the 75-year milestone will be used to celebrate the hospital's achievements, focusing on the people who made them possible.
"Middlemore and the land it sits on is a sacred place for mana whenua and our community. It is a place where people are born, cared for, and die.
"We want to honour the legacy of the people who built this hospital from the ground up and those who walked its halls over the last 75 years, understanding, as they did, that we are custodians and, as such, have a responsibility to future generations.”
On 3 May as part of this celebration, Mana Whenua will be blessing a 75th memorial garden on Middlemore Hospital grounds together with staff and other invited guests.
Over the coming weeks the organisation will focus on telling 75 stories, one for each of its 75 years. These stories will be shared on the Counties Manukau Health website and social media.
"We want to deliver the stories of those who know Middlemore best, the stories of those who have a connection to this special place.
"Middlemore is nothing without people, everyone has a story to tell, and we look forward to telling them."
Mahia i runga i te rangimaarie me te ngaakau maahaki
With a peaceful mind and respectful heart, we will always get the best results.