About Lake Taupō Hospice

Our Governance

Our Team

Our History

How We Work

Our Partners

Lake Taupō Hospice is a registered charity run by the Board of Trustees - Lake Taupō Hospice Trust Ltd, offering palliative care to those with terminal illnesses.

How we work

As proud members of Hospice NZ, our commitment is to provide quality palliative care for every New Zealander.

Operating as a community-based hospice, our clinical team supports patients and their families in their homes, extending care if they move to a local rest home. Our free services include expert clinical care, family support, personal care, and bereavement support, along with loaned equipment to facilitate our patients staying at home.

Our dedicated team of approximately 40 employees, span various roles, including clinical, finance, family and bereavement support, education, community relations and retail. As professionals they contribute their expertise to ensure seamless and comprehensive palliative care services which extend beyond a patients death, to ongoing support for their loved ones.

Approximately 30% of our funding comes from Te Whatu Ora, this funding is specifically directed to home-based palliative care services. The remaining 70% is raised from our retail outlets - Taupō and Tūrangi Hospice Shops, as well as donations, bequests, sponsors, events, and other fundraisers. Your support is truly appreciated, and crucial for sustaining this important free community service.

Our History

Although Lake Taupō Hospice was brought to life through the dedication of many, it began with the vision of one nurse – Peggy Donaldson.

“My father died when I was 14 years old, after a five-year battle with cancer. Dad’s body never left home. The undertaker came to the house. He lay in state in our lounge. The funeral service was conducted at home and then the funeral procession left for the cemetery. My mother and I did not go. Women and children did not go to the graveside much then, but my five older siblings went.

Four years later my mother died while I was a student nurse. In that hospital ‘side room’ there were no chairs, no cuppas during the long night and hastily her body was taken to the morgue, thence to the undertakers. We did not see her again.

Why do I tell you this? Because I think then the seed was sown. That the difference in the two family deaths impressed upon me that the care of the dying and their family was so important…”

…Years later, in 1981, Peggy read an article in the Listener about the hospice movement in New Zealand and the work of Dr Richard Turnbull at Te Omanga Hospice in Lower Hutt. Inspired, she wrote to him asking how a hospice service might start in Taupō. And so began the journey.

Read our full history here

Peggy and some of the Friends of Hospice helpers from left: Peggy Donaldson, Judi Smith, Marie Clarke, Iva Sakaria

Our Governance

DAVID STOEVELAAR

CHAIR
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David is a Director at Le Pine & Co., specializing in a broad spectrum of legal areas. Holding accreditation as a mediator, David is deeply rooted in Ngati Porou, Hicks Bay, and Nga Puhi, Waitangi, with a childhood spent in the Waikato region.
David's academic journey includes a Bachelor of Physical Education/Sports Science and Health with Biology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Secondary School Teaching, and a Bachelor of Laws. Passionate about education and assisting others, he brings a unique blend of skills from both his teaching career and legal profession.
With a focus on mediation, David has successfully guided individuals through various processes, demonstrating adaptability and a diverse skill set. Known for his easy-going nature and ability to build rapport with diverse individuals, David is dedicated to contributing to our organization's success and making a positive impact on our community.
ANGELA CLARK

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Angela is an Associate of local Chartered Accountants firm DPA. Angela was the first non-Chartered Accountant to receive a Certificate of Public Practice from Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and is now a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
Famous among her DPA clients for her personable approach, Angela has brought to the Lake Taupō Hospice Board extensive financial, commercial and trust experience since 2017.
Outside of work and business you will catch Angela exploring NZ with her family, knitting for all the babies that keep popping up at DPA or baking delicious treats.
DUNCAN MATTHEWS

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Duncan is a client director of agribusiness for BNZ with 20 years of banking experience. His portfolio covers pastoral farming, horticulture and cropping, post-farm gate production, commercial property and forestry across corporate investors, Māori entities, and family businesses. Having been raised on the family sheep and beef farm near Hāwera, Duncan is strongly attached to the primary production sector.
Duncan brings to Lake Taupō Hospice a financial and business skillset, along with exposure to governance and management best practise through many connections. Duncan has previously chaired Waipahihi Primary School for 4 years.
Outside of work, Duncan balances spending his time with his family and enjoying the outdoors around the Taupō region. Duncan holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and a Business Studies Diploma from Massey University.
DIANA TRIPLOW

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A registered nurse with over 45 years of health experience in both clinical and health management roles, Diana focused her studies and work in palliative care and medicine and worked with Dr Nixon reviewing hospice service delivery in the Taupō region.
Diana also brings experience in Aged Care having managed St Johns Wood Trust and Mary Doyle Lifecare Village – her work in aged care earned Diana the NZ Aged Care Manager of the year seven years later the VCare Legendary Service to Aged Residential Care Industry Award.
Diana’s work in Aged Care has a naturally close link to her work in palliative care and educating nurses to provide quality palliative care bringing her depth of knowledge and experience to the Lake Taupō Hospice Board.
DR RALSTON D'SOUZA

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Ralston is a Rural Hospital Medicine Specialist currently working at Taupō Hospital. He holds additional roles as Clinical Lead of the NZ Rural Hospital Medicine Training Programme and Honorary Senior Lecturer with the University of Auckland.
Born in India, he grew up in Auckland where he attained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Auckland. He has gained further qualifications from the University of Otago including a Postgraduate Diploma in Rural and Provincial Hospital Practice and a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinician Performed Ultrasound.
He is passionate about medical education and clinical leadership. He is a Member of the Institute of Directors and currently working on his Chartered Membership. His governance journey began as Executive Secretary and Treasurer of New Zealand Resident Doctors' Association - the largest union representing resident doctors and medical students.
During his specialist training he has worked across the North Island both in primary and secondary care. His interest in palliative care arose through seeing the challenges accessing specialist palliative care in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and thus he completed further training in Palliative Care at North Shore Hospital.
His goal is to utilise his clinical and governance experience to enable Lake Taupō Hospice to continue to deliver high quality palliative care.
DEBBIE PIGGOTT

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Debbie is Director of her own company - 38 South Management Limited, specialising in change management. While she moved to Taupo in 2003, much of Debbie’s work has taken her to different parts of New Zealand including Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton and Nelson. She has worked across a diverse range of sectors such as Government, local Government, health, manufacturing, airline, hospitality, business intelligence, not for profit organisations, and professional services.
Debbie started out in Human Resource Management (HRM) and has a post graduate diploma in HRM, specialising in Change Management and has a wide-ranging experience across a variety of change programmes and projects.
Having lived abroad for eight years and completing voluntary work in the Soldier, Sailors, Airmens families Association (SSAFA) in the UK, she is looking forward to continuing this work in New Zealand with Lake Taupo Hospice.
Audrey Hepburn once said, ‘Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible’, this has been a saying Debbie has used throughout her career and personal life.
DAVE FORSYTH

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Dave is the Managing Director of Cheal Consultants Limited a survey engineering and planning consultancy found in Taupo. His original training was in surveying gaining a degree at Otago University, and that professional background is an excellent foundation for knowledge in all matters relating to land development. Operating in the private sector with a business of this scale requires strong skills in leadership and governance. Dave has gained considerable knowledge in this area, being on the Cheal Board for 24 years, steering the finance operation of the business and seeing the company through many challenges whilst achieving significant growth. Dave also maintains involvement with various professional surveying associations.
Dave has been resident in Taupo for 28 years and with his wife Sue has raised 4 children guiding them through local schooling and into individual careers. Dave and Sue have been actively involved and have strong connections with many groups in the Taupo community. Through the family’s association with Taupo Nui a Tia College, Dave served on the College Board for nearly 10 years, serving as Chairman for 3 years.
When not at work, Dave enjoys Sues’ company whilst also maintaining fitness on his mountain bike and honing his very average skills on the golf course.