Five years ago, Wellington entrepreneur Mark Dunajtschik donated $50 million for the development of a new children's hospital in the city.
Now Mr Dunajtschik and his business and life partner Dorothy Spotswood are donating up to $50 million for a new adult mental health facility at the Hutt Hospital.
Mark Dunajtschik Photo: Supplied
With Wellington's state-of-the-art children's hospital Te Wao Nui now completed, Mr Dunajtschik says it was a "natural progression" for him to now focus on improving care for those who are mentally ill.
"'I have had the philosophy all my life that people who are born without a sound mind or a functioning body, they need help," he tells Corin Dann.
Read: Wellington philanthropists give up to $50 million for mental health unit (Stuff)
Mark Dunajtschik has decades of philanthropy behind him, including funding Wellington's rescue helicopter service Life Flight and a new academic position for a sustainable energy expert at Victoria University.
He says he was humbled to receive the Icon Award at this week's Wellington business awards.
"As I said in my speech, when I came to New Zealand in 1959 I was granted a visa and accompanying it was a message from the government.
"For the last 64 years, I've been endeavouring to show that favour was not misplaced."
Listen to Mr Dunajtschik speaking to John Campbell in 2017 here.
