Whakatāne Hospital Neonatal Unit to Expand Capacity With Major Upgrade

Whakatāne Hospital’s Neonatal Unit will increase its capacity from three to four cots as part of a major refurbishment aimed at improving specialist care for newborns and their whānau in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

The upgrade, planned for the summer period, will create a more modern, family-friendly environment for babies requiring specialist neonatal care, while enabling more families to access services closer to home.

Health New Zealand Interim Group Manager for Women, Child and Family Services in Bay of Plenty, Sarah Nicholson, said the investment would strengthen neonatal services across the region.

“The refurbishment will create a modern, welcoming, and fit-for-purpose environment that better supports babies, whānau, and staff, while ensuring high-quality specialist care remains available closer to home,” she said.

Built in the early 2000s, Whakatāne Hospital’s Neonatal Unit currently cares for around 100 babies each year.

The refurbishment will deliver a brighter and more functional space, with increased natural light, improved privacy for whānau and more room around neonatal cots.

Dedicated areas for breastfeeding, milk preparation and milk storage will also be introduced to better support parents whose babies require specialist care.

Clinical staff are expected to benefit from additional workspace, dedicated workstations and increased storage capacity, helping create a more practical environment for delivering care.

Neonatal services are expected to move temporarily to a dedicated area within Whakatāne Hospital’s Paediatric Ward while construction is underway.

A local multidisciplinary project team has been established to plan the relocation and ensure babies continue receiving care throughout the refurbishment, with minimal disruption to whānau and staff.

The upgrade is expected to be completed in autumn 2027.

The project is intended to strengthen the hospital’s neonatal facilities and provide a more supportive environment for families who need specialist care for their newborns in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.