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Mercy Hospice Auckland
History
Mercy Hospice Auckland was established by the Sisters of Mercy. Led by Sister Cecilia Maher, the Sisters of Mercy first came to New Zealand at the invitation of local Maori women. They arrived in Auckland after an arduous sea voyage on April 9th, 1850. More and more sisters from Ireland and New Zealand and the Pacific Islands gradually joined the mission of Mercy in this country.
As early as 1952, hospice care was part of the mission of Mercy Hospital (formerly Mater Miserecordiae Hospital, established by the Sisters at Mountain Road Epsom in 1900). In 1979 St Joseph's Mercy Hospice became part of Mercy Hospital before moving to the current site in College Hill, Ponsonby.
The renamed Mercy Hospice Auckland was officially opened on this site in March 2007. The facility was donated by Sisters of Mercy for the development of hospice care. The hospice building had once been the noviciate of the Sisters of Mercy and for 11 years until 2004, a boarding hostel for students of St Mary's College.
Vision and Mission Statement
Mercy Hospice Auckland is committed to practising these core values individually and as an organisation:
Compassion
Aroha
Compassion compels us to support one another – patients, families, whanau, friends, staff, volunteers and colleagues. We are in this together.
Respect
Whakanui
Respect commits us to uphold the autonomy of each person and their community. We value one another’s cultures and beliefs. We honour the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Quality
Mahi rangatira
Quality demands excellence in care and compels us to share our professional knowledge in partnership with our related healthcare providers and other Mercy facilities. We are committed to continuous improvement and we strive to exceed expectations.
Advocacy
Aroha ki te rawa kore
Advocacy challenges us to ensure that there is equity of access to services for all in our community. It insists that patients have a voice to speak for them when necessary.
Stewardship
Kaitiakitanga
Stewardship calls us to honour the Mercy heritage and ethos entrusted to all who are involved in the governance, management and operational life of the hospice. Stewardship also demands responsible use of all our resources, - financial, human and environmental.
The mission and values of Mercy Hospice Auckland draw very strongly from the mission of Mercy originally expressed by Catherine McAuley. Our founding identity is Catholic and in the tradition of Mercy we welcome those from every culture, race and creed. The hospice flourishes today because of the staff and volunteers and benefactors who continue to uphold the heritage of the Mercy mission and values.
