Enable New Zealand General Manager, Heather Browning said: “About 2300m2 the new Clow Place premises is more than nine times larger than the existing Hamilton Operation. Near to Waikato Hospital, with easy access and very good parking, this is an ideal location".

The new branch will handle the dispatch and return of store and wheelchair equipment, including equipment cleaning and repair, for the North Island’s entire 07 telephone area.  Current West Street operations will be relocated to the new site in September with the expanded services available by the end of October.

The branch will primarily service three District Health Boards – Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Lakes. Significant savings in freight costs will be achieved as the new branch is easily reachable within a 2.5 – 3 hour drive from these regions.

All Enable New Zealand’s equipment for the North Island is currently dispatched and returned to the Palmerston North Store. These three DHBs together make up approximately 52% of the freight from the Palmerston North store. With the Bay of Plenty region seen as an ideal retirement location the demand from this area is anticipated to grow.

The three existing staff, all full time technicians, will be relocated to Clow Place and joined by three additional staff – a technician, administrator and team leader.