Health Minister Dr Shane Reti breaks ground on a new $35 million child health centre at Whangārei Hospital.
The next phase of the Whangārei Hospital redevelopment, Pihi Kaha, is underway with Health Minister Dr Shane Reti breaking ground on Tira Ora, a modern child health centre. The facility will provide more capacity and comfort for patients and staff, featuring eight consult rooms, four treatment rooms, and support spaces.
The $35 million unit replaces the existing children's clinic and is located close to the maternity services in Te Kotuku, allowing easy access between the two facilities through a bridge. The child health centre aims to future-proof Northland's health network by providing accessible outpatient services for the community. Construction on Tira Ora begins in January 2025 and is expected to be completed in mid-2026.
According to Dr Reti, staging hospital developments with smaller builds delivers new health infrastructure sooner, with greater certainty and on budget. This approach adds capacity more quickly and allows the health system to build the right workforce to staff new or expanded facilities. The redevelopment aligns with the Government's programme to rebuild and strengthen New Zealand's hospitals and health infrastructure.
The Whangārei Hospital redevelopment is a two-stage project with $759 million in funding, including the recently-completed Whānau House, the child health centre, and a new acute services building currently in design.