🏥🎉 A major milestone for healthcare in Taranaki with the blessing and naming of the new East Wing building (NEWB) at Taranaki Base Hospital. The name "Te Rau Mātāpuna o Taranaki" was bestowed by Taumaruroa, the Tiriti partner for Project Maunga.
Local iwi led an early morning ceremony alongside hospital staff and project leaders to officially welcome the space. Here's what it brings to the community:
🚁 A brand new rooftop helipad for rapid emergency access
👶 Beautifully designed and equipped maternity and neonatal units
🩻 High-tech radiology and laboratory setups
🚨 A much-needed expansion for our ICU and Emergency Department
Health NZ Te Whatu Ora confirmed clinical teams are currently undertaking final cleans and equipment checks before operations shift to the new spaces.
A Health NZ spokesperson also highlighted the importance of the facility for the region, saying it provides a modern, fit-for-purpose environment that will significantly improve patient care. They acknowledged the massive effort from construction crews and hospital staff to see the project through to completion.
Cultural narratives are heavily integrated into the design of the six-storey block, which is a 5 "Green Star" rated building. Artists and iwi representatives worked closely with architects to ensure the space reflects the local area and provides clear views of the mountain for recovering patients.
Planning for this upgrade began several years ago to ensure the New Plymouth campus had earthquake-resilient infrastructure.
Phased openings of the various clinical departments will roll out over the coming weeks to allow a smooth transition for everyone involved.
A massive shoutout to all the construction crews, planners, frontline staff and everyone else who has worked tirelessly to get us to this point. Building a project this complex right next to a busy working hospital is a huge effort.
Let us know what you think of the new look! Comment below 👇
