A 28-bed ward at Waikato Hospital originally scheduled to open in 2026 will not be ready until 2027, Health Minister Simeon Brown has confirmed.
The ward will now be completed in the second quarter of 2027, pushing back the timeline by roughly a year from the initial target of the second half of 2026. Brown said additional acoustic testing led to a longer design phase, with the chosen location near the hospital helipad creating potential noise issues.
Brown said the site is tight and potentially requires additional infrastructure and insulation. Engineers also encountered poor ground conditions at the location adjacent to the Acute Services Building, which was identified as the most feasible site.
The modular ward was set up to operate as an assessment and diagnostic centre near the emergency department. Brown said "I've been clear Waikato Hospital needs more beds and the project continues".
Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said the minister ignored advice on whether the site was suitable. Labour said the delay will lead to longer wait times, with Verrall saying "the absence of this ward absolutely makes the wait times longer".
A Budget 2025 briefing noted officials had concerns about uncertainty in scope definition, timing, and cost estimates for the project, with those concerns shared by Treasury and the Infrastructure Commission. The announcement followed a patient death at Waikato Hospital's emergency department earlier in the week, which Health New Zealand opened a rapid clinical review into.