# Question 167: I live in Dunedin, have a long-term health condition and rely on specialist appointments. I want to know what the new hospital will actually deliver for patients in Otago and Southland. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What is actually open and treating patients at the new Dunedin Hospital now, what is still being built or moved, and what are the expected dates for the different stages? Collected 23 October 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 5 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: 632c3885-fe7a-4200-bc60-0080c7155f3a As of 22 October 2026, the new Dunedin Hospital is partly open and treating patients. The first building, Outpatients | Whare Mātūtū, began seeing patients on 12 October 2026. The much larger inpatient building, which will house the new emergency department, intensive care, operating theatres and inpatient wards, is still under construction and is scheduled to receive patients in 2031. [New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday)[New Dunedin Hospital takes shape as steel goes up](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-takes-shape-steel-goes) For someone in Dunedin who depends on specialist appointments, the key distinction is that the new building is already delivering outpatient care, but it is not yet a replacement for the existing hospital's emergency and inpatient services. ## 1. What is open now, and what does it mean for patients? ![New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building officially opened today](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/y6Bkk_mlpN0scXepaGq8O8TUeJFGlzTu6tSGbnUkDfdZKpWuM24H0UXyM7bicMu9S9Nf2ECos7VUjUzU5_SuNjAH6MNiS3p_bjsWRfISDCJpjTXrS33pF2iLwXnIBXMGYXzlr5m1GkJYhV69MNw1DBY4MJkhoTlB2HhFwvIrtTs?purpose=inline) Open to patients ## Outpatients | Whare Mātūtū 360 Cumberland Street, Dunedin The five-storey, 15,000 m² outpatient building officially opened in August, with its first patients welcomed on Monday 12 October 2026. It brings specialist clinics, imaging, day surgery and procedure services into a purpose-built facility. [New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building officially opened today](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opened-today)[New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday)[Otago and Southland](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/hospitals/otago-southland) ![Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building: Update — Frontek](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/kVMnz1XKPoeNJW4K_fsWmi50L6t_20sJ-sNgTmpgh9oq44Cd_O_i47bDhTF5Oz7uS6ScBZe1tkrCPAyNqCV3_x9bC9_biqOFywWMCveDzwgFm_Mt8aEy2mtljt0oe_hHPXXx8wB3oOsTbL0B8WcJQSORtEp7ZbYT9S0OLOanCiE?purpose=inline) Under construction ## Inpatient building Former Cadbury site, central Dunedin The 11-storey, 72,000 m² building is taking shape, with structural steel installation under way. It is not yet treating patients. The current target is to begin receiving patients in 2031. [New Dunedin Hospital takes shape as steel goes up](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-takes-shape-steel-goes)[Watch: Timelapse shows new Dunedin hospital taking shape](https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/watch-timelapse-shows-new-dunedin-hospital-taking-shape-hsys958y) ### Which services are in the new outpatient building? Health New Zealand identifies the following services among those moving into the new facility: - Specialist clinics: including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, respiratory medicine, and children's and women's outpatient services. - Medical imaging: MRI, CT, X-ray and other radiology services. - Day surgery and procedures: planned procedures that do not generally require an overnight hospital stay. - Other outpatient therapies: including physiotherapy and hand therapy, alongside medical day-stay services. [New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building officially opened today](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opened-today)[New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday) The important qualification is that not every clinic or service necessarily moved on opening day. The relocation is staged, and the exact location of your appointment depends on the service and its move date. If you already have a specialist appointment, follow the location printed in your appointment letter, email or text. Health New Zealand specifically advises patients to check those instructions rather than assume every appointment has moved to the new building. [New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday) ## 2. What extra treatment capacity is promised? Health New Zealand and the Government have published estimates of the additional annual activity the outpatient building is expected to support once it is fully staffed and operational. Expected additional activity each year # 13,300 Medical imaging appointments MRI, CT and other imaging # 1,700 Day surgery procedures Additional procedures annually # 2,700 Medical day-stay appointments Additional visits annually # 352,000 People in the Southern region Approximate population served Source: Health New Zealand, August–October 2026 announcements. These are projected additional activity levels, not a report of extra appointments already completed. [New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building officially opened today](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opened-today)[New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building officially opens](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opens) For patients, these figures matter because access to specialist care often depends on getting a scan, assessment or procedure as well as seeing a specialist. Co-locating those services may make visits easier to coordinate. However, additional capacity is not the same as a guaranteed shorter waiting list. The published figures are projections for a fully staffed facility. They do not establish how quickly your particular specialty's waiting times will fall, whether there will be enough clinicians to meet demand, or how much extra activity will be delivered in the first few months. The new building also includes digital check-in, wayfinding, patient queue management and improved access to electronic health information. Those are changes to how care is organised; by themselves, they do not guarantee earlier appointments. [New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building officially opened today](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opened-today)[New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building officially opens](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opens) ## 3. What is still at the existing hospital, and what comes next? The current Dunedin Hospital on Great King Street remains essential to regional hospital care. The transition is happening in stages rather than through a single hospital-wide move. | Service or milestone | Position as of October 2026 | | --- | --- | | Specialist outpatient clinics and imaging | Opening and transferring in stages | | Day surgery and medical procedures | Available in the new outpatient building, with services transitioning | | Emergency department | Remains at the existing hospital | | Inpatient wards and overnight stays | Remain at the existing hospital | | Main operating theatres, ICU and high-dependency care | Remain at the existing hospital pending the inpatient building | | Full inpatient building | Targeted to receive patients in 2031 | | Pathology laboratory, additional car parking and other supporting facilities | Separate ancillary workstreams; do not assume these are all complete with the two main buildings | Health New Zealand's project information confirms that the emergency department, inpatient wards and surgical theatres are among the services intended to transfer to the inpatient building. BreastCare, the NZ Artificial Limb Service, Gibson Day Unit, childcare and corporate functions are also listed as services remaining at the current campus. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu)[Dunedin Hospital: Current and future hospital capacity](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/assets/Our-health-system/Infrastructure-and-investment/Dunedin_Hospital-current_and_future_capacity-April.pdf) ## 4. The expected dates: what is actually scheduled? 1. ### August 2026 — outpatient building officially opened Completed milestone The building was formally opened on 28 August. This was an opening ceremony, not the first day of patient treatment. [New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building officially opens](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opens) 2. ### 12 October 2026 — outpatient patient services begin Now operational The first patients began receiving care at Whare Mātūtū. [New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday) 3. ### Late 2026 to early 2027 — further outpatient transitions Staged move Staff and services are transitioning into the outpatient facility. Health New Zealand's project page says some services will move by early 2027. It does not publish one definitive date for every clinic. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu) 4. ### 2026–2030 — inpatient building construction Under way The foundations and major site works have been completed, and vertical steel construction began in July 2026. The building is still being constructed. [New Dunedin Hospital Inpatient Building begins to rise from the ground](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-inpatient-building-begins-to-rise-from-the-ground)[New Dunedin Hospital takes shape as steel goes up](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-takes-shape-steel-goes) 5. ### Late 2030 — planned practical completion Construction milestone The Government's July 2026 announcement gives late 2030 as the scheduled practical completion date. This is not the same as the first day of clinical operation. [New Dunedin Hospital takes shape as steel goes up](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-takes-shape-steel-goes) 6. ### 2031 — inpatient hospital opens to patients Current patient-opening target The new emergency department, inpatient wards, ICU and main operating theatre suite are planned for this stage. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu)[New Dunedin Hospital takes shape as steel goes up](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-takes-shape-steel-goes) The distinction between construction completion and clinical opening is important. Once a building is physically complete, equipment, staffing, safety checks and clinical services must still be ready before patients can be treated there. ## 5. What will the inpatient hospital actually provide? ![New Dunedin Hospital inpatient building images » Lakes Weekly Bulletin](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/qnebHNWK4ofdyVj2xOEWtPB3C7__iP7nMXfPbSt20KqsYcWvno9JtDgCE95ddmj5wT_cMlFmV9R2JPbNXOIT5hhmTRrzhxGOTRS8j-oPGCSVBDDsJly8V7tM_xkHsqjwe_xcwRlQfYHDJHkOzBZo5Q6Z3ws_PfIaTnHmYWoANyY?purpose=inline) The planned inpatient building is the larger component of the development. Health New Zealand's published project information describes: - An expanded emergency department, including short-stay and specialised emergency psychiatric care. - Intensive care and high-dependency beds. - Inpatient wards and a short-stay surgical unit. - A main operating theatre suite. - An integrated campus linked to the outpatient building by an overhead bridge across St Andrew Street. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu)[New Dunedin Hospital Inpatient Building begins to rise from the ground](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-inpatient-building-begins-to-rise-from-the-ground) There is an important detail about capacity. Health New Zealand's project page describes 351 beds at opening, with scope to expand to 404, while a separate Health New Zealand and Dunedin City Council update describes a revised total of 424 overnight beds, including 43 spaces earmarked for future fit-out and 10 ICU spaces used as interim workspace. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu)[Health New Zealand and Dunedin City Council welcome plans for New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/health-new-zealand-and-dunedin-city-council-welcome-plans-for-new-dunedin-hospital) Those figures are not directly interchangeable: the sources use different descriptions of bed capacity and future fit-out. When assessing the promised hospital, it is worth asking how many beds will be fully equipped and staffed when it opens, rather than relying on the largest headline figure. ## 6. Cost and accountability: what to check before the election The Government announced in January 2025 that the inpatient building would proceed on the former Cadbury site. The programme's published funding is $1.88 billion, including an additional $290 million allocated amid earlier cost pressures. The outpatient building was delivered within its separately reported $439.9 million budget. [New Dunedin Hospital construction contract signed](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-construction-contract-signed)[Decision reached on Dunedin Hospital](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/decision-reached-dunedin-hospital)[New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building officially opened today](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opened-today) These are related but different figures: the $439.9 million is the outpatient building's reported cost, while $1.88 billion is the wider programme funding figure. They should not be added together as if they were two separate, wholly independent commitments. The hospital's delivery also depends on more than the two buildings. Health New Zealand's project documentation identifies ancillary work involving pathology, car parking, digital infrastructure, workforce changes and decisions about the existing campus. These are separate workstreams, so the opening of the outpatient building does not mean every supporting facility is finished. [Cabinet Paper EXP-24-SUB-0078: Quarterly Investment Report for quarter ending September 2024](https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2025-02/cabinet-paper-exp-24-sub-0078-qir-sep2024-v3.pdf)[The application](https://www.epa.govt.nz/fast-track-consenting/referred-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-ancillary/the-application/) For the 2026 general election, you can use these questions to examine the published commitments of parties and candidates without relying on campaign slogans: - Timetable: Do they commit to the inpatient building receiving patients in 2031, and what milestones will they report publicly? - Staffing: How will the health system recruit and retain the specialists, nurses, radiographers, technicians and other staff needed to turn physical capacity into actual appointments and treatments? - Waiting times: Will they publish specialty-level waiting times, imaging delays and elective procedure volumes for the Southern region? - Beds and emergency care: What number of beds will be operational and staffed at opening, and what is the plan for future expansion? - Whole-project costs: How will pathology, parking, digital systems and the future of the existing hospital campus be funded and delivered? The most useful evidence will be documented funding, delivery milestones, staffing plans and measurable patient outcomes—not just statements that a party supports the hospital. ## Official sources to follow - [Health New Zealand — New Dunedin Hospital project](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu?utm_source=chatgpt.com): current project scope and stages. - [Health New Zealand — outpatient building opens to patients](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday?utm_source=chatgpt.com): patient moves and appointment-location advice. - [Beehive — inpatient construction milestone, 15 July 2026](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-takes-shape-steel-goes?utm_source=chatgpt.com): construction progress and planned opening. - [Ministry of Health — Budget 2026](https://www.health.govt.nz/about-us/new-zealands-health-system/vote-health/budget-2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com): wider health infrastructure funding context. Bottom line: the new outpatient facility is already treating patients, with more services expected to move in over the coming months. The major change for emergency care, hospital admissions, intensive care and main operating theatres is still ahead: those services are planned to move into the new inpatient building when it opens in 2031. The patient benefit will ultimately depend on staffing, available treatment capacity and whether waiting times improve—not simply on the buildings being completed. ## ChatGPT Answer ID: 106721ea-b3b3-42e4-bfbd-be72c15738d6 As of 22 October 2026, the key distinction for patients in Dunedin, Otago and Southland is that the new Dunedin Hospital has begun treating patients, but only its outpatient building is open. The new inpatient hospital — including the replacement emergency department, inpatient wards, operating theatres and intensive care facilities — is still to come, with an opening date of 2031. [New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday)[New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu) That matters if you rely on regular specialist appointments: the first stage is already delivering outpatient care, while the larger changes to hospital admissions and emergency care depend on the second stage. ## 1. What is actually open now? ![New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building officially opened today](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/y6Bkk_mlpN0scXepaGq8O8TUeJFGlzTu6tSGbnUkDfdZKpWuM24H0UXyM7bicMu9S9Nf2ECos7VUjUzU5_SuNjAH6MNiS3p_bjsWRfISDCJpjTXrS33pF2iLwXnIBXMGYXzlr5m1GkJYhV69MNw1DBY4MJkhoTlB2HhFwvIrtTs?purpose=inline) Open to patients ## Outpatients | Whare Mātūtū 360 Cumberland Street, Dunedin Patients began receiving care here on Monday 12 October 2026. This five-storey, 15,000 m² building is the first operational part of the new hospital project. [New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday)[New Dunedin Hospital Outpatients](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/hospitals/otago-southland/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient) It brings together a range of specialist clinics, diagnostic imaging and day procedures, including: - Specialist outpatient appointments, including orthopaedics, ophthalmology and respiratory medicine. - Children's and women's outpatient services. - Radiology, including X-rays, ultrasound, CT and MRI. - Day surgery and other procedures. - Physiotherapy, hand therapy and other allied health services. [New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building officially opened today](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opened-today)[New Dunedin Hospital Outpatients](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/hospitals/otago-southland/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient) The building is open, but that does not mean every specialist service has moved there or that every patient will be seen at the new address. Some services remain at other sites, and transfers are taking place in stages. Health New Zealand's current instructions are to follow the location in your appointment letter, email or text. If it is unclear, contact the clinic before travelling. [New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday)[New Dunedin Hospital Outpatients](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/hospitals/otago-southland/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient) ### What this first stage is expected to add Health New Zealand says that, once the building is fully staffed and operational, the additional capacity is expected to support approximately: # 1,700 additional day-surgery procedures per year # 13,300 additional medical imaging appointments per year # 2,700 additional medical day-stay appointments per year Source: Health New Zealand and the Ministry of Health portfolio announcement, August 2026. These are expected additional annual volumes at full operation, not confirmed increases already achieved. [New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building officially opened today](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opened-today)[New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building officially opens](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opens) For someone needing ongoing specialist care, the intended benefit is more capacity for scans, planned procedures and outpatient treatment. However, these figures are not a guarantee that every specialty's waiting list will shorten by a particular amount. Actual access will also depend on staffing, demand and how services are organised. ## 2. What is still being built or moved? ![Cuts to ICU beds at new Dunedin Hospital taking chances - former health chief Dr John Chambers | RNZ News](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/P7Kt_-56q4mRoePB3502e7ubx8lDOyGT2Z1fHYGXZqLIIUQ0hD4Qqw_eLCH0_a0voA5aSDuaD9wCbxAy8B8RvoKOyFGVHKlyEoJf-ypLzskY18DEqZ7l7F-Zi5WGuay3WqtuuCIaL2HwHAy1OBqa6xTIogkIFkHiC6lFNtIJyyc?purpose=inline) ## The inpatient hospital Under construction Expected to open in 2031 Construction has progressed beyond foundations: structural steel installation began in July 2026. The building is planned to cover 72,000 m² across 11 storeys. [Milestone moment for new Dunedin Hospital | News](https://www.cpbcon.com.au/news-and-media/2026/milestone-new-dunedin-hospital)[New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu) It is intended to provide: - An expanded emergency department. - Inpatient wards and hospital beds. - Intensive care and high-dependency facilities. - Operating theatres and a short-stay surgical unit. - A connecting overhead bridge to the outpatient building. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu)[Milestone moment for new Dunedin Hospital | News](https://www.cpbcon.com.au/news-and-media/2026/milestone-new-dunedin-hospital) ![Hospital heritage status opposed | Otago Daily Times Online News](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/7E0yUlFRr60SAtU4aBKG8qUntY1i6W_-9UrkMLCzkfeoSOzro6AJ64q7rjGWL7rbW7tJV3wGlmqYxst3VRDyx3YFla9cXiKUCXQmm7JVfxcfGiRM9YujTUL46RGFuL_UrOhKrpiwkaPEWu5b5b_vCu6ZjRzdgYvkB1dpA4rZHQU?purpose=inline) ## The existing Dunedin Hospital Still operating Transition continues through 2031 The hospital at 201 Great King Street remains essential to regional care. Its emergency department is still the place to go for emergency treatment; it has not moved to the new outpatient building. [New Dunedin Hospital Outpatients](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/hospitals/otago-southland/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient)[New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu) Inpatient wards, the main surgical theatres and other hospital services are planned to transfer to the new inpatient building when it opens. Some services, including BreastCare, the NZ Artificial Limb Service and the Gibson Day Unit, are listed as remaining at the current campus. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu) ## 3. The expected timeline These are the published project milestones as of October 2026, rather than guarantees that every service will move on a single date. 1. August 2026 — outpatient building officially opened The building was formally opened on 28 August. This was a construction and project milestone, not the date patients first received care. [New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building officially opens](https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opens)[New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday) 2. 12 October 2026 — outpatient clinical services begin Patients began attending Whare Mātūtū. Services are being transferred and established in the new building. [New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-opens-to-patients-on-monday) 3. Late 2026 to early 2027 — further outpatient transitions Health New Zealand's project information says many services are moving during the opening period, with other services expected to move by early 2027. There is no single published date for every individual clinic. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu) 4. 2026–2030 — inpatient construction The main construction phase is under way, following the piling and substructure work. The building is beginning to rise above ground. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu)[Milestone moment for new Dunedin Hospital | News](https://www.cpbcon.com.au/news-and-media/2026/milestone-new-dunedin-hospital) 5. 2031 — inpatient hospital scheduled to become operational The expanded emergency department, inpatient wards, ICU and main operating theatre facilities are planned for this stage. The existing hospital will continue providing these services until the transfer takes place. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu)[Milestone moment for new Dunedin Hospital | News](https://www.cpbcon.com.au/news-and-media/2026/milestone-new-dunedin-hospital) ## 4. What will the completed hospital deliver for the South? The inpatient stage is what will make the project a substantially new hospital campus rather than a new outpatient facility alongside the existing hospital. Health New Zealand's published project description specifies 351 beds at opening, with capacity to expand to 404, 22 operating theatres with provision to expand to 24, and 58 emergency department spaces. [New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu) There is an important qualification to the bed numbers: Health New Zealand has also published updated design information describing a total of 424 overnight beds, including 43 spaces earmarked for future fit-out and 10 ICU spaces temporarily configured as workspace. The figures describe different aspects of the planned capacity, so they should not be treated as interchangeable counts of beds immediately ready for patients. [Health New Zealand and Dunedin City Council welcome plans for New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/health-new-zealand-and-dunedin-city-council-welcome-plans-for-new-dunedin-hospital)[New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu) For patients who travel from elsewhere in Otago or Southland, the intended benefits include: - Specialist and diagnostic care: more purpose-built outpatient, imaging and day-procedure capacity from the first stage. - Hospital treatment: modern inpatient facilities, intensive care and operating theatres once the second stage is operational. - A more connected campus: an overhead bridge between the buildings and digital systems intended to improve access to clinical information and navigation. - Regional specialist services: continued development of Dunedin's role as a teaching hospital and specialist centre for the Southern region. [New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building officially opened today](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient-building-officially-opened-today)[New Dunedin Hospital](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do/programmes-and-initiatives/infrastructure/regional-infrastructure-projects/new-dunedin-hospital-project-whakatuputupu) Those are planned facilities and service improvements, not evidence that all waiting times, staffing shortages or access problems will be resolved. The building programme alone cannot establish how much individual patients' access to care will improve. ## 5. What to check when considering your vote in 2026 The New Dunedin Hospital is relevant to the election, but it is worth separating the construction commitments from the healthcare outcomes you need. For each party or candidate, you could check: - Delivery: Do they commit to the inpatient building opening in 2031, and what do they say about the delivery timetable and budget? - Specialist access: What measurable commitments do they make about specialist waiting times, diagnostic scans and elective procedures for Otago and Southland? - Staffing: How will they recruit and retain the specialists, nurses, technicians and other staff required to operate the new facilities? - Regional access: What support is proposed for patients who must travel to Dunedin for treatment, including transport and accommodation assistance? - Ongoing funding: How will the extra clinical capacity be staffed and funded after the buildings open? These are useful distinctions because a commitment to complete a building is different from a commitment to fund the services operating inside it. ## Practical information for your next specialist appointment New Dunedin Hospital Outpatients | Whare Mātūtū 360 Cumberland Street, Dunedin General enquiries: 03 474 0999 Emergency department: 201 Great King Street, Dunedin. The new outpatient building does not have an emergency department. Confirm the location on your appointment reminder before travelling. Official information: [Health New Zealand — Outpatients | Whare Mātūtū](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/hospitals/otago-southland/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient?utm_source=chatgpt.com). [New Dunedin Hospital Outpatients](https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/hospitals-services/hospitals/otago-southland/new-dunedin-hospital-outpatient) Bottom line: the first stage is already treating patients, and its principal promise is additional specialist outpatient, imaging and day-procedure capacity. The major inpatient, emergency and intensive-care changes are not yet available in the new building; they are scheduled for 2031. For your election decision, the key question is not just whether a party supports the hospital, but what it commits to delivering in staffed, accessible healthcare alongside the construction. ## Gemini Answer ID: 690bb9a2-7cbc-4d3c-9a67-504c6c6df9d4 Navigating health services and deciding your vote in the 2026 general election while managing a long-term condition relies heavily on knowing what is factually delivered, what remains under construction, and how clinical services are split. The New Dunedin Hospital project is split into two main components—the **Outpatient Building (Whare Mātūtū)** and the **Inpatient (Acute Services) Building**. --- ### 1. What is open and treating patients now? * **The Outpatient Building (Whare Mātūtū):** This five-storey facility on the central-city campus is officially open and actively welcoming patients. * **Services Provided Here:** It handles outpatient appointments, specialist consultations, and day-care services. Once fully operational and staffed, it is designed to increase capacity for day-surgical procedures, medical imaging (such as CT, MRI, and X-ray), and medical day-stay appointments. * **What is *not* here:** This building **does not** contain the emergency department, intensive care, inpatient wards, or main operating theatres. Those critical services remain anchored to the aging existing hospital buildings or are yet to be built. --- ### 2. What is still being built or moved? * **The Inpatient (Acute Services) Building:** Located across the road at the former Cadbury Factory site, this is the core hospital facility. * **Current Build Status:** The main construction contract was awarded to CPB Contractors, and foundational works (piling and pile caps) are actively underway. * **Future Capacity (Upon Completion):** It is planned to deliver: * 351 inpatient beds and 20 short-stay surgical beds. * 22 operating theatres and 41 same-day beds. * A 58-space emergency department (including a short-stay unit and specialised emergency psychiatric care). * 20 imaging units. * **Ongoing Debates and Community Concerns:** Clinicians and health advocates across Otago and Southland continue to scrutinize elements of the build, including the integration and placement of vital supporting infrastructure like pathology laboratories, to ensure samples and acute workflows are not compromised by split-site logistics. --- ### 3. Expected dates for different stages * **August 2026:** The Outpatient Building (**Whare Mātūtū**) was officially opened and began seeing outpatients. * **Late 2025 – Ongoing (2026 onwards):** Substructure and structural works for the Inpatient Building are progressing at the former Cadbury Factory site. * **December 2030 / 2031:** The expected construction completion and opening date for the main **Inpatient Building** to begin treating acute and admitted patients is slated for **2031**. --- As a patient relying on specialist care and weighing your vote, the reality is a phased transition: outpatient care has modernised and moved into the new facility, but you will continue to rely on the broader campus and older facilities for acute, surgical, and inpatient care until the main inpatient building is completed around **2031**. How are delays or the current scope of the inpatient build impacting your access to the specialist care you need right now? ## Gemini Answer ID: 139d9456-e0bd-41a4-bf8a-1e7dcc472226 As someone living with a long-term health condition in Dunedin, navigating specialist appointments and evaluating the health system ahead of the **2026 New Zealand general election**, you are looking at a project that has undergone significant public debate, scaling adjustments, and timeline shifts. The new Dunedin Hospital project is split into two primary components: **the Outpatient Building** and **the Inpatient Building (Acute Services)**. --- ### 1. What is Open and Treating Patients Now? * **The Outpatient Building (Stage 1):** * **Status:** **Officially open.** The 5-storey Outpatient Building (constructed by Southbase on the corner of Hanover and Durham streets) was officially opened by the Government. * **What it delivers for patients:** It houses non-acute, planned health services for Otago and Southland. This includes **specialist outpatient clinics, day procedures and medical units, planned radiology, a transit care unit, and pathology services**. * If you have scheduled specialist appointments that do not require an overnight bed or emergency intervention, you are likely utilizing or transitioning into services housed within this modern facility. --- ### 2. What is Still Being Built or Moved? * **The Inpatient Building (Stage 2 / Acute Services):** * **Status:** **Under construction.** Following major redesign and budgeting debates, the main construction contract for the massive inpatient building (on the former Cadbury factory site) was awarded to CPB Contractors. * **Current Site Activity:** Major structural and substructure works are actively underway, with the steel superstructure rising from the site. * **What it will eventually house:** Once finished, this will be the heart of acute care for the region, slated to include: * An Emergency Department (ED) with specialized psychiatric care and short-stay units. * Around 350+ inpatient beds and short-stay surgical beds. * Operating theatres (approx. 20) and advanced medical imaging units (CT, MRI, X-ray). * A dedicated primary birthing unit. * **The Interim Reality:** Until the inpatient building is completed, acute care, major surgeries, emergency services, and overnight inpatient stays continue to rely heavily on the aging facilities of the existing Dunedin Hospital buildings. --- ### 3. Expected Dates for the Different Stages | Project Component | Milestone / Stage | Expected Timeline | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Outpatient Building** | Construction & Official Opening | **Completed / Open (August 2026)** | | **Inpatient Building** | Main Construction Contract Award | **Completed (September 2025)** | | **Inpatient Building** | Structural Construction & Superstructure | **Underway (2025–2026+)** | | **Inpatient Building** | Expected Construction Completion | **Targeted for late 2030 / 2031** | --- ### Context for Your 2026 Vote When considering your vote, the state of the Dunedin Hospital represents a major flashpoint regarding regional health infrastructure funding, delivery timeframes, and scope modifications. * **The outpatient side** is now a tangible reality delivering day-to-day specialist care in a modern setting. * **The inpatient/acute side** remains a multi-year construction project with a completion horizon stretching toward **2030/2031**, meaning patients with long-term conditions will continue navigating a split campus and older facilities for several more years. Political debates typically center around whether the current and projected scale, bed numbers, and budgets are sufficient to meet the growing healthcare demands of the aging Otago and Southland populations. ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 04845794-5e21-4da5-9a4d-2ee95f269f90 Here is the current delivery status, operational breakdown, and timeline for the new _Dunedin Hospital_ project as of October 2026. What is Open and Treating Patients Now * * **Outpatient Building (_Whare Mātūtū)_ :** Officially opened by the government in August 2026, with patient care and clinical services rolling out. This 5-storey, 15,000-square-metre facility is the first completed building of the wider project. * **Active Specialist Services:** The outpatient building houses co-located services designed to scale up regional capacity, including radiology/imaging, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, children's and women's health, day surgeries, and diagnostics. [RNZ] * What is Still Being Moved, Built, or Phased * * **Ramping Up Services:** While the building is open, full migration and phasing of all scheduled outpatient clinics, day-stay appointments, and diagnostic volumes into _Whare Mātūtū_ are continuing progressively, with full service integration expected by early 2027. [RNZ] * **The Inpatient Building:** The larger, scaled-back inpatient building (handling overnight stays, acute care, emergency department, and operating theatres) is still to be constructed. It will eventually connect to the outpatient building via an overhead bridge. * Expected Timeline and Stages * * **Late 2026:** Initial patient appointments and transition of outpatient clinics underway following the official opening. * **Early 2027:** Full transition and operational capacity reached for all scheduled services within the outpatient building (_Whare Mātūtū_). * **2031:** Expected opening date for the separate inpatient building component of Project Whakatuputupu. * You can track ongoing updates and official announcements directly via the Health NZ New Dunedin Hospital Project Page. Would you like to look into **specific outpatient specialties** moving into the building, or details on how the **inpatient building scope changes** might affect acute and overnight regional services? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 793efac9-bd83-406b-84db-dd12e63da97c The _New Dunedin Hospital_ project (officially named _Project Whakatututupu_) is being delivered in two major stages. As a patient relying on specialist care in Otago and Southland, understanding what is live now versus what is still to come provides a clear picture of how your ongoing treatment access will evolve. * * * What is Open and Treating Patients Now * * **The Outpatient Building (Whare Mātūtū):** This 5-storey, 15,000m² facility has reached completion and was officially opened in **August/September 2026**. * **Current Operations:** A phased transition of services into the outpatient building is underway. It is designed to house outpatient specialist clinics, day procedures, and comprehensive radiology services (including MRI, CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasound). [Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora] * **What is _not_ here yet:** Inpatient beds, major surgeries requiring overnight stays, and the Emergency Department remain at the existing Great King Street site and will stay there until Stage 2 opens. [Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora] * * * * What is Still Being Built or Moved * * **Transition of Outpatient Services:** While the building is open, the full migration of individual specialist outpatient clinics and day-care procedures from older legacy buildings into _Whare Mātūtū_ is rolling out progressively through **late 2026 and early 2027**. * **The Inpatient Building (Stage 2):** The massive 11-storey inpatient building (approx. 72,000m²) is still to be constructed. It will connect to the outpatient building via a bridge and will house the acute services, inpatient wards, operating theatres, and the new Emergency Department. [Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora] * * * * Expected Dates for the Different Stages * * **Stage 1 (Outpatient Building / Whare Mātūtū):** * _Opened:_ **August/September 2026** * _Full service migration:_ Ongoing through **late 2026 / early 2027**. * **Stage 2 (Inpatient Building):** * _Expected Opening:_ **2031** * _Scope/Capacity:_ Planned for roughly $2.1 billion total investment, aiming for 351–404 beds and 22–24 operating theatres, though the project has faced timeline adjustments and budgetary scrutiny over recent years. Until 2031, inpatient and acute care will continue relying on the older existing hospital infrastructure. * Would you like to explore **how the outpatient transition impacts specific specialist clinics** you visit, or look into **transport and parking access** for the new Whare Mātūtū building? ## AI Overviews Answer ID: e1f3079f-3a0a-41c4-af5c-ba0a449f8c89 **The five-storey outpatient building (Whare Mātūtū) is officially open and actively treating its first patients as of October 2026**. The broader hospital rebuild, specifically the main inpatient building, remains under active construction and will not open for patient care for several years. For patients managing long-term health conditions in Otago and Southland, the project is structured across two distinct facilities. Here is what is currently delivered, what is under construction, and the timeline for the different stages. What is Open and Treating Patients Now The **Outpatients | Whare Mātūtū** building, located on the central city health campus, was officially completed within its $439.9 million budget and opened for clinical care in **October 2026**. * **Clinical Services:** This 15,000-square-metre facility houses specialist outpatient clinics, day procedure units, a medical infusion unit, children's and women's health clinics, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, and planned diagnostic services. * **What it Delivers:** For chronic illness management, this building separates planned outpatient care from acute, emergency services. This best-practice model reduces the chance of regular specialist appointments or day procedures being delayed or cancelled due to emergency department influxes. * **Capacity Boost:** Once fully operational by early 2027, the building will add capacity for approximately **1,700 day surgeries** , **13,300 imaging appointments** , and **2,700 day stay appointments** annually. What is Still Being Built (The Inpatient Building) The much larger, 11-storey **Inpatient Building** is actively under construction on the former Cadbury factory site and is not yet open. * **Current Status:** Foundation pile capping is complete. Lead contractor CPB Contractors began erecting the vertical structural steel frames in mid-2026, which are currently rising to their full height. * **Future Services:** Once finished, this 72,000-square-metre building will hold the core acute services, including **371 inpatient beds** , an expanded emergency department with **58 emergency spaces** , operating theatres, and intensive care units. An overhead bridge will eventually link it to the newly opened outpatient building. Expected Project Timeline Following several scope reviews, budget overruns, and intervention by a Crown Manager to lock in delivery, the remaining timeline is structured as follows: Project Milestone / Stage| Expected Timeline| Status ---|---|--- **Outpatient Building Opening**| October 2026| **Completed & Open** **Outpatient Full Service Ramp-up**| Early 2027| Scheduled next **Inpatient Structural Steel & Shell**| 2026–2028| Underway now **Inpatient Practical Completion**| Late 2030| Scheduled **Inpatient Building Opens to Patients**| **2031**| Scheduled If you are weighing this ahead of the election, let me know if you would like details on how the **final bed numbers and operating theatres** compare to the existing Dunedin Hospital, or information regarding the **political decisions and scope changes** made by successive governments. ## AI Overviews Answer ID: 54f7def2-2a66-41eb-a8b6-bb8ff8ce8046 As of October 2026, the **_New Dunedin Hospital (Project Whakatuputupu)_** has officially entered its first major operational phase. Here is the exact status of what is open, what is under construction, and the delivery timeline. 🏥 Now Open and Treating Patients The **_Outpatient Building (Whare Mātūtū)_** is fully complete and **open to patients**. It was officially opened and blessed on August 28, 2026, and began welcoming its first patients on **Monday, October 12, 2026**. If you are a regular specialist user, this is where your care is shifting. This 5-storey, 15,000-square-metre facility separates scheduled clinics from the chaotic environment of acute hospital emergencies. It delivers the following services under one roof: * **Specialist Clinics & Appointments:** Broad medical and specialist consultations, including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, respiratory medicine, and physiotherapy/hand therapy. * **Day Procedures & Surgery:** A dedicated Day Procedure Unit capable of handling an additional 1,700 day surgeries annually. * **Children’s and Women’s Health:** Consolidated regional clinics. * **Planned Radiology/Imaging:** Designed to provide 13,300 additional diagnostic scans per year. * **Digital Systems:** Features self-service check-in kiosks, digital wayfinding screens, and electronic prescribing tools. 🏗️ Under Construction and Remaining at the Old Site All **acute, emergency, and overnight services** have **not** moved yet. They remain operational at the existing Dunedin Hospital site on Great King Street. The **_Inpatient Building_** is actively under construction next door. Vertical construction officially began in **July 2026** , when the first structural steel frames began rising out of the ground. This massive 11-storey, 72,000-square-metre building will eventually house: * The 24/7 Emergency Department (ED) * The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit * Operating theatres (planned 22–24 theatres) * Overnight hospital beds (351–404 beds) * Maternity and neonatal wards Health NZ – SouthernNew Dunedin Hospital | Project WhakatuputupuDunedin Hospital 🗓️ Staged Timeline and Expected Dates Project Stage| Status / Expected Completion Date| What it Delivers ---|---|--- ** _Outpatient Building (Stage 1)_**| **OPEN** (Began operations October 12, 2026)| All day stays, specialist consulting clinics, planned imaging, and day procedures. **_Inpatient Building (Stage 2)_**| **Under Construction** (Estimated completion **2031**)| Overnight wards, critical care (ICU), acute surgeries, and the emergency department. **Full Site Integration**| **2031**| A physical bridge link will connect the Outpatient and Inpatient wings into one cohesive central campus. While the opening of Whare Mātūtū streamlines your current scheduled appointments, the broader inpatient delivery timeline has faced delays and was pushed to **2031**. This long-term timeline and political revisions regarding budget caps and bed capacities remain a major debating point ahead of the election. If you would like to look into specific parts of this project further, please let me know: * Which specific **medical specialty or clinic** you rely on so we can confirm if it has already transitioned to the new building. * If you need information on **parking and transport assistance** for accessing the newly opened facility.