The Helensville District Health Trust (HDHT) is a charitable trust committed to enabling "the best possible health services for the people of South Kaipara." The Trust was formed in 1989 in response to the impending closure of Helensville's local maternity hospital. The community-led initiative pioneered New Zealand's first Birthing Unit, which remains at the forefront of maternity care in this country and around the world. In the intervening years, the Health Trust has successfully invested in local property, creating a health campus in central Helensville that also includes the local GP practice, midwife clinics, Labtest facilities and offices for the Waitematā District Health Board. Its focus for the next few years will be on redeveloping and improving the health campus site, creating facilities that will be the envy of small towns right around New Zealand.