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01 Mar 2022

Successful sale equips The Selwyn Foundation for major philanthropy

The Selwyn Foundation has completed the sale of its six retirement villages and its laundry operations to Metlifecare, enabling it to extend its charitable giving to a target of $100 million over the next 10 years.

Auckland, New Zealand: The Selwyn Foundation has completed the sale of its six retirement villages and its laundry operations to Metlifecare, enabling it to extend its charitable giving to a target of $100 million over the next 10 years.

All staff and residents have now come under the care of Metlifecare at Selwyn Park (Whangarei), Selwyn Heights (Auckland), Selwyn Oaks (Auckland), Selwyn Wilson Carlile (Hamilton), Selwyn St Andrew’s (Cambridge) and Selwyn Sprott (Wellington), and the commercial laundry in Auckland has also transferred.

The villages involved represent half of Selwyn’s retirement village capacity. The Foundation retains its historic Selwyn Village in Point Chevalier, Auckland, and the related Hansen Close in Birkenhead.

“The Foundation will provide ongoing spiritual and pastoral care and ministry at all villages. Residents will therefore be able to enjoy the continuity of fellowship, connection and spirituality that these established relationships offer,” said Hon David Cunliffe, Chair of The Selwyn Foundation.

Proceeds of this sale will be ethically invested and enable the Foundation to significantly lift its charitable giving from $10 million to a target of $100 million over 10 years, creating a brighter future for disadvantaged vulnerable elderly.

“This is a game-changer in terms of the Foundation’s ability to extend our charitable support and do more for the growing number of vulnerable older people in our communities where there is increasing hardship – whether it be loneliness and social isolation, financial or housing-related,” David Cunliffe said.

“Residents and staff are in very good hands, and we have no doubt that each village will continue to prosper under Metlifecare’s careful stewardship,” said Garry Smith, Chief Executive Officer at The Selwyn Foundation.

“The transferred villages will forever be an integral part of Selwyn’s history and it has been our honour to be of service to each community of residents, their family members and staff. We bid them farewell and offer them our best wishes for the future,” he added.

“The Selwyn Foundation’s Mission remains steadfast. We are building on the good works of those who have gone before us to create an enduring legacy that supports more of the growing numbers of vulnerable older people in Aotearoa New Zealand,” concluded Garry.