Former Greymouth Plunket volunteers claim money raised locally over decades has been taken by the national office, while all Westport volunteers quit last week.
Plunket nationalised its financial structure about four years ago, but now two of the West Coast groups claim they cannot access money raised on the Coast, for the Coast.
The Greymouth branch believes it had about $80,000, which it carefully nursed.
About five years ago, when Greymouth asked to access that for a heatpump, there was no problem. However, when it recently asked for $700 for a new sofa for the Greymouth waiting room, it was told to hold a sausage sizzle, a former volunteer claims.
They believe the funds included money left to the Greymouth group in a will.
A fitness class for mums, which saw personal trainers work with women for a total of about $250 a month, was also cancelled because it did not fit with Plunket's philosophy - but also because there was no money, they claim.
The person who contacted the Greymouth Star is a former volunteer.
"I'm very disgruntled."
Another former volunteer, who chalked up many years, said the Greymouth branch sold the two-storey former nurse's house by the Karoro bowling green, as well as rooms at Inangahua Junction.
It also held mini telethons on local radio to raise funds.
"All the money collected here, stayed here.
"It was a really strong committee, they raised some really big money.
"It's not the organisation it was."
Former Westport volunteer Erin McLean, who stepped down last week along with three others, said when Plunket shifted to the new structure in 2012, they were told getting rid of local treasurers, and bringing in a national finance team, would make it easier.
It had about $20,000 in the bank, she said.
"We were assured that money was our money."
However, they have been waiting since August to purchase a new lounge suite and Mrs McLean said they had just been told "that money is no longer ours".
"It has been pooled nationally."
Plunket would now decide nationally what its priorities were. As the Westport building was a priority, it may end up getting funds from other regions.
She said the former volunteers felt like frauds, as they had told people the money raised would stay local.
"Now it's gone."
Mrs McLean had nothing but praise for local nursing staff but said the "other side is an absolute joke".
"I stepped down because I couldn't cope with the poor communication."
TV One reported this week the community of Pirongia is also at war with Plunket, saying the $25,000 they raised to build a new playground has gone missing.
"We want our money and if we don't get it we are seeking legal advice," Plunket volunteer Ruth Webb told the news station.
"Plunket has morphed into a marketing company now that is trading-off a 100-year-old brand that New Zealanders know and love to pay salaries for head office staff and that's appalling," Karori mum Rachel Bowie said.
Two branches in the Hurunui area, Culverden and Waiau, complained about the changes in a Stuff story yesterday.
Plunket was preparing a response to the Greymouth Star's queries at the time of going to press.
- by Laura Mills
