The Te Puna Whaiora Children's Health Camp chairman said yesterday although negotiations were still under way with the Ministry of Social Development about the camp's future, he was confident it would remain open.
The Roxburgh camp was fully staffed and had recently advertised for a manager.
"People can read between the lines if they want," he said. "We wouldn't advertise for a manager if the facility wasn't going to be around."
The health camp board would meet ministry officials again on Monday, Mr Chapman said.
"We met a couple of weeks ago as well and the reason why negotiations are taking so long is that we're looking at long-term funding options. The contract for [government] funding is three-yearly and it expires in June 2010."
The talks so far were "promising", he said.
"If I were a betting man, I'd put money on it [Roxburgh] remaining open," Mr Chapman said.
Last October, it was revealed Te Puna Whaiora needed $5 million from the Government to retain its seven camps.
Mr Chapman, who is based in Whangarei, said the health board governing body still believed it needed a nationwide service.
The Gisborne health camp, which had been rebuilt, was officially opened on Wednesday.
Mr Chapman said planning and funding for that facility was sourced up to three years ago.
"That has nothing to do with this current funding matter."
The Gisborne facility was a pilot for a new style camp, he said.
It was made up of houses, rather than a dormitory, and each house would accommodate eight children.
The children got their own breakfast, did their own washing and and did other chores in a home environment.
"The intention is to get them used to taking on some budgeting as well, deciding what cereal to buy for breakfast and that kind of thing."
Caregivers were assigned to each house. The present intake of children had been in the facility for a week and were "revelling" in it.
