Southland Charity Hospital

to people throughout new zealand, blair vining was an extraordinary man: a man who turned his own tragedy into a battle to ensure better cancer care for his community. the southland charity hospital trust was established in 2019 following blair’s highly-publicised battle with terminal bowel cancer. after his diagnosis in 2018, blair was told he had weeks to live, but chronic under-resourcing of the health service in southland meant he was unlikely to see a specialist before cancer took his life. blair and his family decided that this needed to change. as a result, he and his wife melissa worked tirelessly to reform the system and make access to cancer care equitable for all kiwis. one of the greatest legacies created because of their work is the formation of the southland charity hospital. the hospital was founded by the community, for the community. once completed, it will provide free services to those in the southern half of new zealand who are unable to access care through the pu