The programme will add 140 new beds across Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington Regional, Nelson and Hawke’s Bay hospitals, helping to ease pressure on emergency departments and improve patient flow.

The Interim Inpatient Units are being built off site using modular construction, allowing for faster, more cost-effective delivery with minimal disruption. All 28-bed units share a standardised design, supporting faster delivery while still accommodating local clinical needs, including short-stay surgical care and temporary decanting during seismic strengthening.

CID signed a delivery agreement with Health New Zealand in October 2025 and is working in partnership with Southbase Construction and Fitzgerald. The design is consent-ready and on-site construction programmes are expected to be five months or less, with all five units anticipated to be delivered in the second half of 2026.