Home away from home: The Kidney Society celebrates 21 years of community dialysis houses.
MEDIA STATEMENT
30 October 2025 | 30 October 2025
● The Kidney Society has a total of 28 dialysis chairs available and serves up to 55 people
across its three South Auckland community dialysis houses.
● The first community dialysis house opened in Papatoetoe in 2004, and was the first renal
facility in the country to operate without medical staff present.
● The community dialysis houses are available for clients to use 24 hours a day, seven days a
week.
The Kidney Society, together with staff from Middlemore Hospital, and current clients and staff,
today celebrated 21 years of supporting Kiwis living with chronic kidney disease through its
innovative community dialysis houses in South Auckland. The heart-warming ceremony took place at
its Calvert and Wallace Houses on Hain Avenue in Māngere East.
The Kidney Society, in partnership with Middlemore Hospital renal services, operates three
successful community dialysis houses across South Auckland, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
These houses are often described by clients as a ‘home away from home’ fundamentally changing
their dialysis experience. Clients are empowered to take control of their haemodialysis treatment,
enabling them to drop in to a community dialysis house and self-dialyse at their own convenience
instead of having to visit a local hospital or clinic.
“It’s such a humbling milestone to celebrate 21 years of supporting Kiwis living with chronic kidney
disease through our community dialysis houses,” says Kath Eastwood, Chief Executive of The Kidney
Society.
“We’re celebrating the thousands of lives that have been positively impacted and empowered to live
well longer. The most consistent piece of feedback from our clients is that our community dialysis
houses mean they can maintain employment, education, and social and cultural commitments,
enhancing their quality of life, which is a powerful testament - that is the biggest reward.”
“Many of our clients have been using our community dialysis houses for several years, allowing us to
foster a supportive, long-term community of people. These are homes where everyone in need of
chronic disease support is welcome to visit.”
The first community dialysis house opened in Papatoetoe in 2004, becoming the first renal facility in
the country to operate without medical staff present.
“21 years on that dialysis house, Ripley House, continues to serve up to 22 New Zealanders every
week,” says Mrs Eastwood.
Chronic kidney disease is a serious, often irreversible condition, and without vital life-saving dialysis,
kidney failure is fatal. This model is a vital, cost-effective solution to a growing health crisis as the
demand for kidney dialysis continues to grow across the Counties Manukau and Auckland region.
Community home dialysis requires approximately half the investment of hospital dialysis. The
Kidney Society’s three community dialysis houses have collectively saved the healthcare system an
estimated $130 million over the past 20 years.
With 21 years of experience, The Kidney Society is acutely aware of the need for additional
community dialysis facilities to support local communities, particularly as the demand for kidney
dialysis continues to increase due to the higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes.
The Kidney Society is actively working with Health New Zealand on a proposal for the establishment
of an additional community dialysis facility in the Counties Manukau region."
"We are strong advocates for community dialysis, and believe it could be a meaningful, empowering
approach for other regions across New Zealand.”