St. Andrew’s Village Celebrates a Legacy of Care

Nestled in Glendowie, Auckland, St. Andrew’s Village stands as a testament to both generosity and excellence in senior living. Founded in 1957 with a visionary bequest from Sir George Elliot, the village has blossomed into a respected part of the local community. 

Unlike commercially driven institutions, St. Andrew’s operates as a charitable trust, reinvesting all profits back into resident care. This unique structure allows them to focus solely on resident well-being, continually improving services, facilities, and care options.

From independent living units fostering active lifestyles to comprehensive care centres, St. Andrew’s offers a diverse range of choices. Residents find comfort in knowing the village can accommodate their evolving needs, regardless of the support required.

The village stands as a powerful symbol of how a single act of generosity can positively impact countless lives. As they look to the future, the team at St. Andrew’s remains dedicated to providing exceptional senior care with dignity and community.

In 1957, following the passing of Sir George Elliot a year earlier, a bequest was made from his estate for 50k (pounds sterling) to establish a charitable trust to help look after elderly people in the Eastern Bays community.

After several years of setting up the Trust and securing the land upon which we currently operate, the first buildings were opened in 1962. These comprised a care facility and some rental cottages.

From the outset, St Andrew’s Village has championed resident comfort and progressive care. Gone are the days of institutional settings. In the early years, we offered a welcome departure with rental cottages and a care facility. Recognising the changing needs of our residents, we embarked on a complete care centre rebuild in the late 1990s. This commitment to modernization and resident well-being has remained a cornerstone of our village ever since.

St. Andrew’s Village has a proud history, having been trading since 1957, originally as the Auckland Presbyterian Hospital Trustees (Incorporated) until 2018 and since then as St. Andrew’s Village Trust (Inc).

The trust is incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957 under registration number CC27739.

The Trust has clear and specific purposes related to the provision of geriatric and other hospital care and services, to provide care for and meet the residential needs of the elderly in New Zealand, to establish and make available a range of retirement housing for the elderly in New Zealand, and to provide support and other services that the board considers are ancillary to or reasonably associated with any of these purposes. These and other requirements are set out in the trust’s constitution.

The trust is governed by a board of trustees, of whom there are currently eight.

The board’s role is to effectively represent and promote the interests of the trust to enhance the efficiency of the Trust and add to its long-term value.  The Board directs and supervises the management of the business and affairs of the Trust.

The Trustees have a Board Charter, the purpose of which is to promote and maintain high standards of corporate governance and to clarify the role and responsibilities of the board, including how the board operates and engages with the CEO and the management team.

Trustees

Trustees are appointed for an initial term of 4 years and a term of 2 years thereafter. The board undertakes a skills assessment to identify gaps and future needs before starting the trustee recruitment process. Considerations for board appointments include alignment with the organisation’s purpose and current strategy, diversity of thought, skills, experience, and background, as well as succession planning.

Board Meetings

The board meets monthly, except in December. Meetings are a mix of in-person and virtual, using video conference technology. The board also holds an annual half-day strategy workshop. In conjunction with the CEO and management team, the development of the strategy for St. Andrew’s is a key function of the board.

Board Committees

Trustees are expected to actively participate in one or more of the board committees, which are:

• Finance, Audit & Risk
• Property
• Clinical Governance
• Nominations & Governance
• Strategy & Innovation

Each committee has a Terms of Reference or Charter, which sets out its purpose and limitations. Board committee meetings are held at differing intervals, depending on what is happening at St. Andrew’s.  For example, the Property Committee generally meets monthly, while the Finance, Audit, & Risk Committee meets quarterly.

Standing committees are reviewed regularly, at least annually, to ensure they continue to meet the organisation’s needs. Appointments to committees are also reviewed on an annual basis.  In late 2023, the board decided to appoint an independent member, Dr. Paul Owen, to the Clinical Governance Committee.  Dr. Owen is a geriatrician and a former trustee, and he brings his wealth of clinical experience and expertise to bear for the benefit of the committee.