Health Minister Tony Ryall has inspected progress on the Taupo Hospital redevelopment.
Mr Ryall was on site of the $13million project yesterday.
"Stage one of the project, which saw the emergency department (ED), maternity unit and radiology department upgraded and earthquake strengthened was completed last month," Mr Ryall said.
"The ED has doubled in size from six to 12 cubicles. The maternity unit has now moved into the main hospital building and has two birthing rooms and three postnatal rooms, and the radiology department has been upgraded."
Mr Ryall said work on the next stage of the redevelopment had started.