New World New Plymouth: a local business supporting local healthcare

Every baby born at Taranaki Base Hospital arrives into a community that cares. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, like New World New Plymouth, the new maternity unit in the New East Wing Building will be an incredibly special place for new families to be.

John Gray and Christine Kovaleski are the owners of New World New Plymouth. They have been in the supermarket industry for nearly 28 years, starting out in Hāwera, owning a store with their family. After a while they decided to branch out by themselves, running New World Merrilands for 13 years. This was followed by eight years in Te Puke, until the opportunity arose to take on New World New Plymouth. "We loved New Plymouth, it was an easy fit," says John. "So we're back here and enjoying it."

What they bring with them, beyond decades of retail experience, is a deep commitment to giving back to the communities they serve.

As of 29 June 2026, the New East Wing Building | Te Rau Mātāpuna o Taranaki is open to the public and will be the new home for Radiology, Emergency, Maternity, Neonatal and ICU in Taranaki. The 20,000 square metre building is a transformative upgrade for the region, with $450 million invested by central government and an additional $10 million donated by local businesses and community.

The New East Wing houses a stunning new maternity unit, a much-needed upgrade from facilities that haven't changed in decades. The new unit will feature four primary birthing suites, as well as secondary birthing suites. Each suite will have its own birthing pool, private bathrooms, and dedicated spaces designed around the needs of new parents and their babies.

The maternity unit is where families begin. Where families gather to support their loved ones at one of the most emotional periods of their lives. While government funding will provide the clinical aspects of the unit, there is so much more that is possible to enhance the wellbeing of new parents and their whānau. This is where donations to the Taranaki Health Foundation make a difference.

Family is at the heart of John and Christine's businesses too. When they were approached to see if they could provide support, Christine said it wasn't hard to say yes to. “It's such an integral part of the community, so it was a pretty easy decision to do something ourselves alongside our staff,” said Christine.

Christine first heard about the Taranaki Health Foundation through an initial approach to New World about a broader sponsorship programme. But she wanted to do something that felt closer to home. Something their own staff could be part of.

The result was a simple but powerful payroll giving scheme. Christine designed a flyer for their staff, explaining the initiative, showing staff images of where the hospital was heading and why it mattered. Staff could opt in to donate as little as 50 cents per week for students or $1 a week for adults. Christine said it was important to keep the buy-in value low. “We wanted to make the scheme accessible to as many staff members as possible. Little and often can build to large amounts.”

The money donated is totalled at the end of the month. And then here's the part that makes it remarkable: every month, John and Christine match whatever their staff have contributed, dollar for dollar. John states that this matching fund was an important commitment for them to make. “By matching the donations, we provide an additional incentive for our staff to be involved. Every dollar they donate becomes two dollars for the community” says John.

The initial target was to raise $10,000. This was to sponsor a delivery suite in the new maternity unit, to make sure it was as comfortable as possible for new mothers and their family. This target was met in just under a year, but they didn't feel like the fundraising had to stop there.

They set their sights on two specialised breastfeeding chairs that the maternity unit needed. The current total raised is over $19,000. This means that both specialised chairs can be purchased, helping mothers and their partners bond with their newborns.

The next goal is to fundraise to provide a double bed for their maternity room, making it easier for partners to stay overnight with the mother and baby, helping create those early bonds that are vitally important. Christine says that the excitement comes from being part of something that makes a difference. “It's a great feeling to be able to be part of something that is so important in our community.”

The staff are excited to be part of the scheme too. Staff are kept updated on where the money is going and what it's being used for. Christine is now able to put progress photos on the staffroom wall, making the contribution tangible for the people who made it happen.

"It's just a feel-good programme," she says. "They can see the tangibility of what it is that they've done."

John and Christine are clear: this kind of scheme isn't just for supermarkets, and it isn't just for large businesses. It's for anyone who believes that the health of their community is worth investing in.

John firmly believes that making it easy for staff is what has made it a success. “Being able to give little and often is ideal for our staff. And they love hearing about the impact their generosity has made. It'’'s a real morale booster.”

Their advice to other business owners thinking about starting something similar is to keep it honest, keep it local, and keep people informed.

“If it's approached in an honest and positive way, and it's something you genuinely believe in, absolutely you should do it” says Christine. “Send out the information, let people know where you're at, what's happening, what you've accomplished. So they can see that this contribution is tangible and it's happening."

Of course, it isn't for everyone. Although every member is given the opportunity to be part of the scheme, John and Christine put no pressure on their staff. “If they choose to not participate, that's their decision and it's respected.”