Tokanui Hospital (1912-1998) (Waikato) Traditional Cache
Geocaching HQ Admin: Hospital security contacted Geocaching HQ to request archival and removal of this cache. Cache owner, please retrieve container as soon as possible. -Geocaching HQ Admin 923795
Tokanui Hospital (1912-1998) (Waikato)
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(micro)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Drive by cache
This is the site of the now derelict Tokanui Hospital.
I used to work at this hospital as a Registered Nurse from Feb 1984 through Dec 1997. I then moved to the new facility at Waikato Hospital the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre in recognition of the ex Superintendant of Tokanui from 1964-1984. Dr H R Bennett.
It actually closed down in Dec 1998 after the last of the Psychopaedic patients was moved to Community Care.
Tokanui Hospital is one of the old Asylum like hospitals as was Carrington in Auckland, Oakley in Auckland, Kingseat in South Auckland, Porirua in Wellington, Sunnyside in ChCH and Cherry farm and Seacliffe both near Dunedin.
Tokanui opened in July 1912 with a trainload of patients dropped off at the main trunk railway line down the rd at Te Mawhai.
It was self sufficient for many years and ran as a farm, with its own butcher shop etc.
In the 1980's it was at the forefront in mental health as it had the first Cultural Unit within a Psychiatric facility in New Zealand. Called "Whai Ora". It also had a Therapeutic Community running as well as the general admission wards and long stay wards.
Due to the "Deinstitutionalisation" Phiosophy a lot of these "remote" places were closed down and the care of the Mentally Ill was transferred to smaller units in the general hospital facilities.
In its heyday Tokanui would have had 1200 plus residents.
It was segregated also untill the late 70's early 80's.
The site is now run by the local Maniopoto Iwi who the land was taken from originally.
The nearby Settlement houses are rented out.
A book is being produced on the History of Tokanui and should be released on the 100th Anniversary year being 2012.
The cache is a Berrocca container.
Writing implement required.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre gur cbfg fgenvare.
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures