Support for older people in Nelson Marlborough

Local services providing care for older people in Nelson Marlborough. These include Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) agencies, Meals on Wheels and nursing.


Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) agencies

The Needs Assessment Service assesses the needs of people who struggle with daily activities because of age, a health condition or disability. The goal of the needs assessment is to help people maximise their independence.

Needs Assessment Service (internal link)

NASC agencies organise help to stay at home, support services for carers and entry into residential care.

Needs Assessment and Service Coordination — Nelson Marlborough

The agency contact for Nelson Marlborough is the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Needs Assessment Service.

  • Email: needs.assessment@nmdhb.govt.nz
  • Phone: 03 539 3976 or freephone 0800 244 300 (Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm)
  • Nelson
    Address: Needs Assessment Service, 281 Queen Street, Richmond. 
    Postal address: NMH, Private Bag 18, Nelson 7010.
  • Blenheim
    Address: Needs Assessment Service, Marlborough Community Health Hub, 22 Queen Street, Blenheim. 
    Postal address: NMH, PO Box 46, Blenheim.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Needs Assessment Service — Nelson Marlborough (external link)

The agency provides services across:

  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Collingwood
  • Golden Bay
  • Motueka
  • Murchinson
  • Picton.

Other services for older people

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is a support service that prepares and delivers a subsidised hot midday meal.

Meals on Wheels (internal link)

You usually need to be referred to the service by a healthcare provider.

The Citizens Advice Bureau has contact details for Meals on Wheels services in each region.

Meals on Wheels community directory — Citizens Advice Bureau (external link) 

District nursing

The district nursing service delivers specialist nursing care in the community. We provide care in the home and in clinic settings, depending on your needs. Clinics are located at:

  • Richmond Community Health Hub
  • Motueka Community Health Centre
  • Nelson Hospital
  • Marlborough Community Health Hub

District nursing services — Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough (external link)

Shuttle services

Community-run shuttle services are available to transport people to medical appointments within the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough region. The community shuttles are not emergency or ambulance services. If you need an ambulance or have a medical emergency, always dial 111.

Hato Hone St John Health Shuttles

The St John Health Shuttle is a community service that transports people to and from medical and health-related appointments.

  • Marlborough Health Shuttle — covers Blenheim, Picton, Seddon, Havelock and Renwick.
  • Nelson Health Shuttle — covers Wakapuaka to Brightwater.
  • Motueka Health Shuttle — covers Tasman, Upper Moutere, Brooklyn, Ngātīmoti, Motueka and Riwaka.

The service is run by volunteers. A donation is greatly appreciated to help cover costs.

To make a booking:

Waka Ora Health Shuttle — Hato Hone St John (external link)

Marlborough to Nelson shuttle 

The Marlborough Community Vehicle Trust runs an ‘on-demand’ service taking passengers to and from medical appointments in Nelson. The service may also assist returning Marlborough patients discharged from Nelson Hospital (subject to notice).  

People wianting to use the community vehicle must be a trust member (a $20 one-off payment). 

Marlborough Community Vehicle Trust (external link)

Motueka Regional Ambulance Community Trust

People living in Motueka can contact the Motueka Regional Ambulance Community Trust.

Golden Bay

There is no shuttle service in Golden Bay and the district is not covered by a public bus service.

There is a member-only service providing transport to medical appointments for people over 50, and disabled persons. Users of the ‘Wrinklies Express’, as it is known, pay an annual subscription and are asked to make a donation for each trip.

Transport — Age Concern Nelson Tasman (external link)