The Government's commitment in today's Budget to a major upgrade of Nelson Hospital, including a new six-storey inpatient building, is awesome news for the region, says Nelson Mayor Nick Smith. 

“Budget ’25 delivers for Nelson a new 128-bed inpatient building to be completed by 2029, the refurbishment and strengthening of the Percy Brunette and George Manson tower blocks and a new Energy Centre. This investment will enable stage two of Health NZ’s redevelopment plan and comes on top of the first stage of work already underway on an expanded emergency department, due for completion early next year. This plan is affordable and deliverable. It addresses the major issues of our shortage of beds, the poor conditions of existing wards and the earthquake strengthening.

“Nelson City Council is particularly relieved that this plan delivers the necessary earthquake strengthening of the tower blocks. Council has issued earthquake-prone building notices on the two tower blocks and boiler tower. This Budget announcement gives us confidence, as the building regulatory authority, that this work can be done on time.

“This is the Government's largest investment and biggest project ever for Nelson. The new inpatient building, at 11,000m2, compares with the existing two hospital tower blocks of 4,900m2, built in 1955, and 6,400m2, built in 1970. This additional space for wards and other facilities will deliver a step change in the quality and quantity of care Nelson Hospital is able to provide the region.

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“The next step now we have a plan and the funding is to get on with the detailed design and construction. Nelson City Council will be working closely with Government and Health NZ to progress the resource and building consents as quickly as possible to get this massive build delivered efficiently.

“I am relieved and grateful Government has recognised Nelson's urgent need for this investment. I never doubted the merits of Nelson's case, but it is a huge sum for a small region at a time when Government is grappling with large deficits and growing debt. I particularly thank the Prime Minister, Health Minister, Finance Minister, Infrastructure Minister and new South Island Minister, all of whom have visited the region, been well informed on the problems with our hospital and have helped deliver this planned solution,” Mayor Nick says.

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