New Zealand Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced a significant construction milestone for the New Dunedin Hospital project, with pile capping now completed for the new inpatient building.

In July, the inpatient building construction work resumed on the former Cadbury site, with rapid transformation underway.

In total, 154 pile caps have been placed, linking 324 deep foundation piles.

The process of pile capping includes securing the piles tops with steel-reinforced concrete to establish a stable foundation for the building’s substructure.

With the foundational phase complete, the hospital project is now progressing to the subsequent stage of construction.

Work on the substructure is currently in progress, which involves creating the basement and concrete slabs for the ground floor.

Additionally, preparations are being made for the delivery and installation of the structural steel framework, while coordination of plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems is advancing concurrently.

Starting in mid-2026, the steel framework will start to emerge from the location, providing the community with a clear indication of the size of the new hospital.

Several companies based in Dunedin are collaborating with the principal contractor, CPB Contractors.

During the peak of construction, the project is expected to support more than 900 full-time equivalent jobs and contribute approximately NZ$100m ($56.07m) to the local economy each year.

Brown said: “Completing the pile capping is a major achievement for this project. It demonstrates real, tangible progress on the ground and marks a crucial step toward delivering the world-class hospital that Dunedin and the surrounding Otago and Southland region deserve.”

Earlier this month, Brown announced that five hospitals across the country would receive a total of 140 new beds as part of the government’s hospital wards programme in 2026.