The new $35 million unit needs to be built to make way for the key part of the hospital rebuild: an acute services building, which is still on track despite new modelling showing more beds needed than initially thought.
The sod-turning on Friday marked the start of the outpatient child health unit, Tira Ora, to be completed by mid-2026.
The key acute services building — including emergency department, ICU, operating theatres and rooftop helipad — is now being designed and is still on track to be completed by 2031.
These first three buildings make up stage one of the rebuild, which the then-Labour Government agreed to fund $759 million for the first stage in 2022.
Reti, who is also Whangārei MP and a GP, said the child health unit was an important step in the overall redevelopment, which is a significant project to improve health infrastructure in Northland.
“The buildings in many of our regional hospitals, including here in Whangārei, are a far cry from where they need to be.”
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti turns the first sod of the new child health centre, an enabling project for the Whangārei Hospital redevelopment. Photo / Denise Piper
The whole project will be the biggest infrastructure build in Northland since the Marsden B power station, he said.
Health NZ head of infrastructure delivery Blake Lepper said updated modelling showed some areas of the acute services building needed to grow, to meet greater demand for beds than expected.
The project has also been impacted by rising construction costs.
But Health NZ is working on the design to get greatest efficiency for size, such as focusing on clinical space rather than corridors or back-office rooms, he said.
It is working with international experts, as well as locals, on the design to ensure it is world-class, affordable and meeting needs, Lepper said.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says staging the Whangārei Hospital rebuild gives greater certainty. Photo / Denise Piper
The demand for beds will also be met by using existing parts of the hospital campus, Health NZ Te Tai Tokerau group director of operations Alex Pimm said.
Reti said staging hospital developments with a series of smaller builds will help deliver new health infrastructure sooner, with greater certainty than one big build.
“This is a win-win. Staff can provide patients with the latest models of care sooner in modern facilities. It minimises disruption, and it is more doable from a construction, budget and workforce point of view.”
The $35m Tira Ora child health unit will have eight consult rooms, four treatment rooms and support spaces, offering significantly more space and comfort than the existing centre, Reti said.
“A new child health centre will allow paediatricians, physiotherapists, nurses and other staff to provide quality care for children and their families in a comfortable, functional, fit-for-purpose space.
“Tira Ora is also deliberately located close to the maternity services in Te Kotuku, which opened earlier this year, so it can be connected by a bridge for easy access between the two facilities. Together, these will create a child and youth services hub.”
Lepper said constraints from Northland’s construction workforce meant the 158-bed ward tower could only be built after the acute services building was done.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.
