Abbeyfield Masterton marked the opening of its new facilities with a celebration last week, with residents, committee members, staff and supporters taking part. The opening had originally been scheduled for February but had to be postponed because of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Pictured is Abbeyfield Properties board chair Graeme Roberts cutting the ribbon of the new Buxton Wing, which has four new studio units. The wing is named in honour of the late Joanna Buxton of England; Buxton legacy funds for international Abbeyfield developments made a significant contribution to the development. The project also included the development of new shared lounge, dining room and kitchen facilities.

The project was funded by various grants and a mortgage, with operating funding support from Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The agreement entered into by HUD and Abbeyfield New Zealand is a pilot arrangement.

Here is a recent article on a visit by Wairarapa MP Kieran McAnulty to the house to see the new facilities, which appeared in the Wairarapa Times-Age.