Project Maunga Stage Two Update
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A bird's eye view of the NEWB site
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 Tēnā koutou kātoa
It’s been a busy winter for the Project Maunga team. Despite the challenges that come with wet and blustery weather, we continue to make progress on all of our projects.
Te Huhi Raupō, the new renal unit has recently taken out some fantastic design and property awards. Each award is recognition of the commitment and investment Te Whatu Ora has made in terms of sustainability and design, and an acknowledgement of the tireless work the Project Maunga put in to deliver a purpose-built facility like Te Huhi Raupō.
The New East Wing building (NEWB) continues to evolve and materialise. The last of the original enabling works are coming to an end, and the site is becoming busier with lots of new trades getting underway. It is easy to see the structural steel going up, but there is also lots of timber framing being installed which will be followed quickly by services trades such as plumbing and electrical. Last week the installation of NEWB's impressive glass facade began. Not only is this an exciting visual milestone, it's also a great achievement for the project team.
Following months of demolition work, it was great to be a part of the blessing of the Taranaki Cancer Centre site at Taranaki Base Hospital. It was important to take a moment to reflect on the history of the site and to make sure we are ready for the next phase of this project. We would like to thank Tumaruroa for guiding us through this important kawa. Construction is set to begin very soon so watch this space!
Ngā mihi
Jesse Jardine
Programme Director |
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Check out the progress on NEWB
Following several months of serious concrete action on NEWB it's great to see flooring and flights of stairs appear. The final ground beams and the last column pours are complete, which means key site preparation and enabling works are almost finished.
Considerable progress has also been made in installing the building’s framing. With walls springing up left right and centre, other key trades (plumbers and passive fire protection specialists) are also on-site connecting NEWB to certain essential services.
Another exciting milestone has been reached with the installation of the façade commencing. The team are using the spider crane on Level 5 to put each panel in to position on Level 4 - the future plant room. As the install progresses you will see the patient and staff areas with a glass façade – certain areas will even have openable windows!
If you'd like to watch the progress unfold, take a peek at the onsite Project Maunga timelapse camera. |
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A spider and cobra from Turkey proving their weight in gold on NEWB
Throughout the construction of NEWB at Taranaki Base Hospital main contractors Leigh’s have had to develop strategies to safely pour concrete at height, under decks, over long reaches and down into a basement. As you can imagine there have been numerous challenges at each stage. Pumping a heavy wet substance like concrete upwards goes against the laws of gravity.
When conventional concrete pumps just weren’t going to cut it Leigh’s shipped in the big guns – a cobra and a spider from the other side of the world.
According to Nathan Hawkins, Project Manager Leigh's Construction, the spider and the cobra are worth their weight in gold on a construction project of this scale.
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 The Spider
The Spider is a specialised 20-meter hydraulic boom from Turkey. It has a small gas engine that powers a hydraulic concrete pump up and out to reach and pump concrete into foundations and slabs to the upper levels.
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The Cobra
The Cobra or Concrete Dragon was air freighted over, especially for this project and it’s the only machine like this in Aotearoa. It is used to place concrete where there is no overhead access within the new building.
It is a powered concrete placer on wheels and has a gas engine to run a hydraulic pump. It has four wheels that all turn and a 2-metre boom that can slew. It weighs 850 kilograms wet, and it works by dragging a concrete pouring hose around, putting the concrete where it is needed.
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Te Huhi Raupō takes out multiple design and property awards
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Te Huhi Raupō takes out multiple design awards
The architectural awards season has almost wrapped for 2023, with Taranaki Renal Unit, Te Huhi Raupō scooping awards for its design and build on a national and international stage.
The building was recognised for excellence in both the Civic, Health & Arts category and the Green Building category at the New Zealand Property Industry Awards in June. It also took out the public architecture category at the 2023 Western Architecture Awards and has now been shortlisted for the national award.
It was then named the winner of the prestigious Healthcare Design (under 25,000m2) trophy in the European Healthcare Design Awards 2023, along with being awarded highly commended in the Design for Health & Wellness category..
To top things off, Te Huhi Raupō was also named as a finalist in the Infrastructure NZ Building Nations awards in the decarbonisation category.
We’re delighted that the design of Te Huhi Raupō is being celebrated and recognised, says Te Whatu Ora Taranaki interim hospital and specialist services lead, Gillian Campbell.
“From the outset, we wanted to create a building that provides a welcoming, comfortable, and patient-focused space. It also had to deliver the clinical care patients needed, be sustainable and contribute positively to the mental well-being of both patients and staff,” says Campbell.
“The expertise of all the designers and contractors involved, combined with the commitment by Te Whatu Ora to good design and investment in sustainability, has enabled us to produce a building that delivers on all these aspects. To have this recognised by design experts is hugely gratifying.”
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Progress Report - Taranaki Cancer Centre
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The blessing of the new Taranaki Cancer Centre
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Blessing prepares site for construction to begin
With the demolition of the old laundry and enabling works now complete, the site at Taranaki Base Hospital where the new integrated cancer care centre is being built was blessed by ‘Taumaruroa (Ngāti Te Whiti and the eight iwi of Taranaki)’ in preparation for construction to begin.
The ceremony brought together Te Whatu Ora employees, iwi, representatives from the National Cancer Control Agency - Te Aho O Te Kahu, and leaders of the Project Maunga construction team.
Construction of the Taranaki Cancer Centre is scheduled to be completed in 2025.
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Take a virtual walk through of the Taranaki Cancer Centre
Get a sneak peak of what the purpose-built facility will look like once construction is complete.
The virtual tour shows the 12-chair department where chemotherapy patients will receive their treatment, and where radiotherapy patients will be treated by the new linear accelerator (LINAC).
The facility will bring all of our cancer and oncology services together under one roof and thanks to the LINAC, 80% of cancer patients in Taranaki, will no longer have to travel to Palmerston North to get the radiology care they need.
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Introducing Claire Samuel - project administrator for Project Maunga
What do you enjoy about your role?
I’ve recently started studying Project Management, so being in a role that allows me to experience a project of such magnitude is inspiring.
I enjoy seeing the rich diversity of roles that play a part in building such infrastructure. Everyone from the tradies, manager’s, subject experts, architects, clinicians, and administration staff play a vital role in piecing the project together. Without each element, we wouldn’t have a new hospital wing and cancer centre being built. It’s fascinating to see how the project develops each day.
What will you be working on as part of Project Maunga and how will this help to bring the whole project together?
I’m tasked with assisting the day-to-day activities within the project office. I’m also excited to work with Cathy Thomson, assisting with all the furnishings, fixtures and equipment that will be going into the project. A huge task in itself!
How have your career experiences led you to this role?
I’m a radiation therapist by trade, and moved into medical device sales several years ago, servicing the hospitals in the lower North Island. My partner and I moved to New Plymouth in March last year, and I was keen to work closer to home. In June I discovered the role with Project Maunga and was lucky enough to get the job!
The passion point for me in the project is the Taranaki Cancer Centre. When I first moved to New Zealand in 2011, I couldn’t believe how far patients had to travel for radiotherapy. The opportunity to work with the team on the Taranaki Cancer Centre will be a privilege.
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Taranaki Health Foundation
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Donate to enhance Project Maunga
Project Maunga is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure the best health facilities and services possible for the 120,000 people of our region.
The Taranaki Health Foundation wants to maximise this opportunity by creating a regional hospital that boasts near big-city healthcare – one that punches above its weight and provides the best services and facilities to this generation and many generations to come.
To do this, we rely on the support of businesses and communities across the region, like Methanex, Energyworks and Pipetech; Lions Clubs International, Rotary, Inner Wheel and Women’s Institute; and many others who give their services in kind. But it needs more. It needs people like you, who care about health and who believe that Taranaki deserves the best services possible.
By donating to the Taranaki Health Foundation, you can join a group of special people who believe the best healthcare should be available to all.
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