Project Pihi Kaha – Whangārei Hospital Redevelopment

Whangārei Hospital is the largest in Northland and provides several secondary health services for the whole Northland population. The other district hospitals in Dargaville, Bay of Islands and Kaitaia mainly serve their local areas. With demand for services at Whangārei Hospital growing rapidly, new facilities are required to meet the health needs of communities in Te Tai Tokerau.

Planning is underway on the first stage of work to create an acute services building that will meet Northland’s unique health needs by increasing service capacity while creating modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that provide equitable health care for its population. This acute services building will be constructed on the existing hospital grounds and named Pūkauakaua in homage to the Pā site it rests on.

Larger clinic areas and additional spaces for support services will enable the smooth running of operations, which will be complemented by new digital technologies to streamline services, support pandemic readiness and equip staff with the tools they need to continue to provide excellent care to Northland communities.

As part of the enabling works, some existing buildings will need to be moved from the building site, allowing for a new Whānau House to support the communities further. In addition, a new Child Health Centre will be constructed adjacent to the Te Kotuku maternity building creating a mother, child and baby health hub.

With improved staff and public zones and culturally inclusive spaces that align with a Māori worldview, the new hospital will create a more welcoming and calming atmosphere for patients and visiting whānau.

Project Pihi Kaha is expected to take eight years to complete, providing broader economic benefits for Te Tai Tokerau. A recent assessment found that it would add an estimated $233m to regional GDP and over 2,700 full-time equivalent jobs.

The first stage will include:

• Acute Services Building - Pūkauakaua
  • Emergency Department
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Coronary Care Unit
  • Cardiac Catheter Laboratory
  • Operating Theatres
  • Whare cultural zone
  • Rooftop helipad
• Child Health Centre – Tira Ora
  • Clinic areas, support spaces
  • Link Bridge to Te Kotuku maternity building
• Whānau House – Te Whāea o te Iwi
  • 5 rooms to accommodate up to 20 people, communal living spaces, Kaitiaki space
• Design for Stage Two Ward Tower

Stage Two – pending approval of additional funding

• 158-bed Ward Tower:
  • Four medical/surgical wards
  • Acute Assessment unit
• The design allows for the addition of further ward towers in the future as demand requires.

The Whangārei Hospital site is known as Pūkauakaua Pā. Ngāti Ruangaio occupied this land. After a battle, Te Parawhau came into existence and settled on the site. The last Rangatira were Taurau Kukupa, Tito and Te Whareumu.

Te Parawhau whenua was gifted for the purpose of constructing medical facilities. The first health buildings were built in 1901, and the hospital site has developed over the years.

Many buildings on the current Whangārei Hospital campus were built as early as the 1950s, resulting in numerous facilities and associated infrastructure having reached the end of life.

The 2020 Programme Business Case and 2022 Detailed Business Case are provided below. These documents show the sequence of investment considerations for the Whangārei Hospital redevelopment – Project Pihi Kaha.

In November 2022 Cabinet approved Stage 1 of the redevelopment (Option 2A of the Detailed Business Case) at an estimated cost of $759.0 Million. Stage 1 is set to deliver a new acute services building including; theatres, ED, ICU, a coronary care unit, a cardiac catheter laboratory, radiology and support services. Further approval is required for Stage Two of the redevelopment, construction of a ward tower.

Some material in the Detailed Business Case has been withheld under sections 9(2)(b)(ii) & 9(2)(j) of the Official Information Act (1982), to enable commercial activities to be carried out without prejudicing a commercial position or disadvantaging negotiations.

• Whangarei Hospital Redevelopment Programme Business Case 2020 (PDF, 3.5MB)
• Whangarei Hospital Redevelopment Detailed Programme Business Case (PDF 16MB)

For all enquiries or feedback in relation to Project Pihi Kaha, you can contact us by email: redevelopment@northlanddhb.org.nz 

For media enquiries, contact us at hnzmedia@health.govt.nz