Government secures site for new South Auckland hospital

The Government is spending $45.3 million on land in Drury, South Auckland, where a new major hospital may be built to relieve pressure on the city’s health facilities. 

The 13ha site on Karaka Rd was purchased from Fisher and Paykel Healthcare. It is next to the Ngākōroa railway station, which is under construction, and adjacent to State Highway 22. 

For years, the city’s hospitals have been under increasing pressure, with Middlemore widely considered the busiest emergency department in the Southern Hemisphere. South Auckland is also one of the country’s fastest-growing areas. 

Plans for a new hospital in Auckland date back years. In 2018, chiefs of the then district health boards announced plans for a 400-bed acute hospital in South Auckland over the next two years and potentially a new hospital north of the city. 

Health Minister Simeon Brown said securing the land now would help future generations and health planners to develop modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that address the city’s rising demand and changing healthcare needs. 

“This is a practical, long-term investment in the health of South Auckland, and an important part of our plan to build a stronger health system. 

“Location was a critical consideration. We wanted a site that would be easy for patients, families, staff and visitors to access, whether they are travelling by train, bus, or car,” Brown said. 

Last week, Health New Zealand executives held a press conference at North Shore Hospital announcing it would hire at least 380 new nurses, midwives or health assistants over the next year amid significant demand on the health sector. 

It would also investigate switching the foundational measurement for calculating workforce need, which has been used for more than 20 years, to one modelled on “nurse to patient” ratios, a system in Australia that dictates the minimum number of nurses required on a ward in relation to patients. The move aimed to increase the quality of care patients received. 

The land parcel in Drury, South Auckland, the Government is purchasing for a future hospital. 

“South Auckland is one of the fastest-growing parts of New Zealand, and it’s essential that our health infrastructure keeps pace with that growth,” Brown said. “Securing this 13ha site in Drury gives us the opportunity to plan ahead and ensure we have the space needed for future health facilities that will serve local communities for decades to come. 

“This lays the foundation for better access to healthcare and provides future generations with the infrastructure needed to support quality health services closer to home.”