NZ InfraWatch
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HEALTH
New Dunedin Hospital
Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora · Otago
New tertiary hospital for the southern region, built in stages on the former Cadbury factory site. The inpatients building reaches practical completion in 2030 and opens to patients in 2031. Approved budget is $2.1b, including $174m contingency.
84
Breakdown▾
Strongest delivery signals Data: High
Delivery Confidence Score, 0 to 100, higher is better: a ranking of how strong this project's delivery signals are, not a probability. It blends eight factors, including the election risk and policy alignment shown below.
Each axis is a scoring factor (0 to 100)
Data current as at 16 Sept 2026, when the pipeline was last checked against its source.
Key facts
- Region
- Otago
- Sector
- Health
- Status
- Under Construction
- Estimated value
- $2.1b
- Indicative completion
- 2031
- Funding status
- Fully Funded
- Lead organisation
- Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora
- Election risk
- Low
Election risk assessment
Replacement hospital under construction but with major cost overruns and design controversies. A government change may alter scope but would not cancel a partly-built hospital.
Government priority alignment
MEDIUM: Health-delivery priority, but cost overruns have drawn value-for-money scrutiny.
Recent changes
- 2026-W37Major Estimated value down 32%: $3.1b → $2.1b.
- 2026-W37Major Completion slipped 2 years: 2029 → 2031.
Chronology
- 2017Business case approved for a new Dunedin hospital
- 2024Government signals downgrade amid cost blowouts; public backlash
- 2025Commitment confirmed to build the inpatients block at the Cadbury site
- 2026Outpatients building targeted to open
- 2026Approved budget confirmed at $2.1b (incl. $174m contingency); practical completion targeted 2030, opening to patients 2031
- 2029expectedInpatients building targeted (≈18-month delay reported)
Source
New Dunedin Hospital ↗ · RNZ (approved budget, Budget 2026) ↗