Allevia Hospital Epsom project is NZ's biggest private hospital expansion
New Zealand's largest private hospital expansion under way is nearly finished in a $150 million job.
Christchurch-headquartered Leighs Construction won the contract on the Auckland hospital, once known as Mercy Epsom, 98 Mountain Rd. It is now called Allevia Hospital Epsom.
Dr Ian England, chief executive
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
18 hours ago
- RNZ News
Forest & Bird slams reform as 'conservation retreat', but minister defends economic push
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon wants to make concessions easier to obtain. Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter A major overhaul of conservation land law has sparked sharp criticism, with Forest & Bird accusing the government of gutting longstanding protections in favour of commercial interests. The government's intended changes to the Conservation Act , unveiled at the National Party conference in Christchurch on Saturday, aims to "unleash growth" by increasing the number of concessions - or permissions - granted to businesses wishing to operate on conservation land. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said many businesses already run on conservation land, but the current regime was "totally broken", with concessions "often taking years to obtain or renew". However, Forest & Bird said the Bill's changes will shift the focus of conservation law "from protection to exploitation". "This is not conservation reform, it's conservation retreat," said chief executive Nicola Toki. "We should not be making it easier to sell off conservation land for commercial gain. "Our laws should uphold the promise to protect nature for its own sake, for future generations and for all those who hold these places dear." She said the consultation document proposed making about five million hectares of public conservation land available for exchange or disposal, if deemed "surplus" or to "support other government priorities". Toki said this represented "the most significant weakening of conservation law in a generation", warning it would increase pressure on native species and transform the Department of Conservation (DOC) from a protector of biodiversity into a land-use manager. "They dismantle the very purpose of our national parks and conservation lands," she said. "Our national parks are not theme parks - they are taonga with deep cultural and ecological significance. "This feels less like policy and more like an international online auction of the very places that define who we are." Conservation Minister Tama Potaka pushed back on claims the government was selling off conservation land. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has pushed back on Forest & Bird claims. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii He said the changes were about creating a clearer, faster and more consistent concessions process for a wide range of land uses. "There's a huge backlog - some concessions were taking five-six years," Potaka said. "We've already halved that backlog in the last six months, but we need to change the system, so those backlogs don't build up again." Potaka highlighted that DOC land was already used for various infrastructure and business purposes, including cellphone towers, bridges, guided walks and concerts. He said the government's reforms aimed to bring more transparency and efficiency to how those uses are managed, and to re-invest revenue into biodiversity protection and pest control. "We're trying to get the right balance between the environment and nature, and the economy, but we do need to drive more economic outcomes out of the things we do own as a country," Potaka said. "That land [currently] makes about $50-60 million [annually]. In anyone's language, that might not be enough, especially if we want to re-invest into biodiversity, and ensure more jobs and high wages." Potaka rejected the notion that the reforms shifted DOC from its ecological mission. He said the changes would actually improve conservation outcomes by making the system more navigable for all types of users, including environmental educators and community groups. "People who host outdoor education camps need concessions too," he said. "Often they're more about community and kids than making money." Potaka also pointed to recent funding announcements - including $30m for weed and pest control, and heritage site upgrades - as evidence of the government's commitment to conservation. In addition to changes to land management, the government has proposed charging international visitors between $20-$40 to access four of the country's most popular natural attractions - Cathedral Cove, the Tongariro Crossing, Milford Sound and Aoraki/Mount Cook. New Zealanders would not be charged. The prime minister said the new charges could generate an estimated $62m annually, all of which would be re-invested in the same areas. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
PM wants NZ to get behind development, progress, stem tide of Kiwis leaving for Oz
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses 550 delegates at the annual National Party conference in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter National leader Christopher Luxon has told the party's annual conference that the country needs to "say yes" more. Addressing about 550 delegates, MPs and supporters at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch, Luxon bemoaned "activists" who opposed housing developments, agriculture, cruise ships and mines. "If we're serious about keeping Kiwis at home, creating jobs and increasing wages for all New Zealanders, we can't afford to keep saying no to every opportunity that comes our way." Opposition parties have heavily criticised the government for its economic policies and laid the blame at its feet for the 30,000 New Zealanders who moved to Australia last year, but Luxon said the opposition would make it worse. "Take a look at Australia," he said. "If they shut down their mining industry or their energy industry tomorrow, as Labour and the Greens want to do here, I guarantee you would see fewer Kiwis moving across the ditch." Luxon's speech came hot on the heels of an announcement from the United States that it would increase tariffs to 15 percent. Still digesting the announcement and what it would mean for New Zealand exporters, Luxon acknowledged "challenging" global conditions. "We can't just batten down the hatches and hope for the best," he said. Luxon's speech made no mention of National's coalition partners, New Zealand First or ACT, or even the word 'coalition' itself, although deputy Nicola Willis acknowledged the "energy" it took to keep Winston Peters and David Seymour under control. Instead, Luxon's speech was heavy on shoutouts to his National ministers and their policies, and also on blaming the previous government for the cost-of-living struggles New Zealanders currently faced. "In the years to come, immediate action on the cost of living isn't enough," he said. "The last government spent billions of dollars in failed handouts, only to watch inflation roar and the economy falter. "We have to keep our eyes on the prize." Echoing his speech at Monday's post-cabinet press conference, Luxon leaned on the economic policies the government had introduced, such as tax changes, FamilyBoost and the removal of the Auckland Fuel Tax. "We're doing what we can," he said. The speech contained an announcement the government would make it easier to get a concession on Department of Conservation land . "That means more certainty for businesses, less bureaucracy and much faster decisions, so the businesses that should be operating can get up and running." There would still be restrictions on some parts of the DOC estate. "Where it does make sense, we need to get to the 'yes' much faster - instead of being bogged down in process and uncertainty," Luxon said. Charges of $20-40 for foreign visitors to high-volume sites like Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Sound, and Aoraki Mount Cook were being introduced, but New Zealanders would be exempt from the fees. Party president Sylvia Wood, who was re-elected at the conference, said the party would select candidates for the 2026 election shortly. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
PM wants NZ to get behind development, progress, stem tide of Kiwis living for Oz
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses 550 delegates at the annual National Party conference in Christchurch. Photo: RNZ / Giles Dexter National leader Christopher Luxon has told the party's annual conference that the country needs to "say yes" more. Addressing about 550 delegates, MPs and supporters at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in Christchurch, Luxon bemoaned "activists" who opposed housing developments, agriculture, cruise ships and mines. "If we're serious about keeping Kiwis at home, creating jobs and increasing wages for all New Zealanders, we can't afford to keep saying no to every opportunity that comes our way." Opposition parties have heavily criticised the government for its economic policies and laid the blame at its feet for the 30,000 New Zealanders who moved to Australia last year, but Luxon said the opposition would make it worse. "Take a look at Australia," he said. "If they shut down their mining industry or their energy industry tomorrow, as Labour and the Greens want to do here, I guarantee you would see fewer Kiwis moving across the ditch." Luxon's speech came hot on the heels of an announcement from the United States that it would increase tariffs to 15 percent. Still digesting the announcement and what it would mean for New Zealand exporters, Luxon acknowledged "challenging" global conditions. "We can't just batten down the hatches and hope for the best," he said. Luxon's speech made no mention of National's coalition partners, New Zealand First or ACT, or even the word 'coalition' itself, although deputy Nicola Willis acknowledged the "energy" it took to keep Winston Peters and David Seymour under control. Instead, Luxon's speech was heavy on shoutouts to his National ministers and their policies, and also on blaming the previous government for the cost-of-living struggles New Zealanders currently faced. "In the years to come, immediate action on the cost of living isn't enough," he said. "The last government spent billions of dollars in failed handouts, only to watch inflation roar and the economy falter. "We have to keep our eyes on the prize." Echoing his speech at Monday's post-cabinet press conference, Luxon leaned on the economic policies the government had introduced, such as tax changes, FamilyBoost and the removal of the Auckland Fuel Tax. "We're doing what we can," he said. The speech contained an announcement the government would make it easier to get a concession on Department of Conservation land . "That means more certainty for businesses, less bureaucracy and much faster decisions, so the businesses that should be operating can get up and running." There would still be restrictions on some parts of the DOC estate. "Where it does make sense, we need to get to the 'yes' much faster - instead of being bogged down in process and uncertainty," Luxon said. Charges of $20-40 for foreign visitors to high-volume sites like Cathedral Cove, Tongariro Crossing, Milford Sound, and Aoraki Mount Cook were being introduced, but New Zealanders would be exempt from the fees. Party president Sylvia Wood, who was re-elected at the conference, said the party would select candidates for the 2026 election shortly. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
