Project Maunga Stage Two Update
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The David Street entrance to the new Renal Unit.
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 Tēnā koutou kātoa
2023 is set to be another action-packed year for Project Maunga. It has been fantastic to kick start the new year with the New East Wing Building (NEWB) receiving the Green Star Design and As-Built NZ v1.0 certified Design Review rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC).
NEWB is the first public health building to receive this accolade. It reflects a tremendous commitment from Te Whatu Ora to deliver buildings that will positively impact staff and patient well-being and sets a benchmark for future health projects.
I’m thrilled to confirm that we’ve signed an agreement with Leighs Construction for the early works on the Taranaki Cancer Centre project. Leigh’s certainly haven’t wasted any time, and have been flat tack getting the old laundry site at Base Hospital prepped and ready for demolition in the coming months.
It's going to be exciting to see the old building come down and to be able to start bringing the Taranaki Cancer Centre to life.
Ngā mihi
Jesse Jardine
Programme Director |
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NEWB is beginning to take shape
The construction of NEWB is gaining momentum. Each day progress is becoming more and more visible with the steel erection well underway.
The steel now in place is what will eventually be Level 2 (Primary Birthing, Maternity, and Neonatal) of the new building. NEWB will be six stories high, and structures in place now just go as high as level 2. This gives us a taste of just how high the new building will be.
In January the flooring system for Level One was installed and the construction team is getting ready to lay the floors for Level 2.
See the building transform for yourself - check out our on-site Project Maunga timelapse camera.
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Leading the way in sustainable building
The news that NEWB is the first public health facility in the country to be awarded a 5-star Green Star Design and As-Built NZ v1.0 certified Design Review rating by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC), was a hugely positive way to kick off 2023.
The Green Star rating recognises our commitment to best practice design that creates healthy, comfortable, sustainable spaces – not just through direct impacts such as materials or water use, but an overall holistic approach that contributes to a better environmental future, says Gillian Campbell, Te Whatu Ora Interim Hospital Lead, Taranaki.
Click here to find out more about how NEWB was assessed against 28 different criteria Read more....
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Progress Report - Renal Unit
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We're open for business
Seeing the first patients arriving to receive their treatment at the new Renal Unit has been hugely rewarding. It's awesome to hear that the state-of-the-art building and its fresh sun-filled spaces facilities are a hit with patients and staff alike.
The final touches to the external artwork were recently added, thanks to a very generous donation from local firm Rivet who worked with locally based cultural designers Tihei to develop the mirrored panels that feature on the ends of each building.
The Unit will be officially opened this month.
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Progress Report - Cancer Centre
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Steps to construction
A lot of work has been happening behind the scenes to get the site where Taranaki's new state-of-the-art Cancer Centre is to be built, ready for construction.
First, the site has to be cleared. This means demolishing the old laundry at Base Hospital. To ensure this is done safely, PowerCo was tasked with relocating the laundry’s old gas manifold and modifying the path of electrical cables running beneath the building.
The team from Leighs have been busy relocating the services from the tunnels beneath the laundry and setting up equipment that will make sure asbestos is removed safely.
We're incredibly grateful to Base Hospital staff and patients, for being so patient and understanding while this disruption is going on.
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Progress Report - Energy Centre
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Mark Crawford, the Independent Commissioning agent checks out the Energy Centre's new HV switchboard.
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New Energy Centre is ticking along nicely
The Centre’s computer room is nearing completion and will soon be handed over to Te Whatu Ora Taranaki ICT team so that they can install new and improved IT infrastructure. This will add diversity and improved resilience to the ICT systems we have on site.
The Centre's new HV switchboard, shown above, is one of the key parts of the wider campus infrastructure upgrades.
In addition to this work, the installation of the generator fuel system is well underway. Once commissioned, the two new 1.8MVa generators will be set to provide the campus with up to 72 hours of backup power in the event of an emergency.
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 Meet interns Ash and Jack
A complex project like Project Maunga provides a huge opportunity for the community to learn about the construction sector. This summer Te Whatu Ora and RCP offered two three-week paid internship positions.
The internships were coordinated by the Work Based Learning Lead, Katrina Mayo. Katrina works in partnership with WITT / Te Pūkenga, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Ministry of Business, Employment and Innovation, to help create opportunities for learning on the Project Maunga site.
The internships were picked up by second-year students Jack Kingston and Ashley Knowles, who are completing Diplomas in Construction Management at WITT / Te Pūkenga. Over the three weeks, the interns shadowed different site roles, and learnt about health and safety, quality assurance, procurement, and the clinical interface.
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Five minutes with Jack
What are you studying?
NZ Diploma in Construction with strands in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying (Level 6) at WITT Te Pūkenga, in New Plymouth. 
What made you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship because it is a great opportunity to take a look at a large complex construction project that doesn’t come around every day.
What are three key learnings that you’ll take away from this experience?
- The sheer amount of expertise that goes into a project of this calibre is impressive. It’s not just construction experts but numerous clinical specialists as well.
- How important the communication between parties is, and how it is managed.
- The many specialist and onerous design requirements of a healthcare facility, there is much more that goes into a hospital than a house.
What advice would you give others thinking about joining the construction industry?
There is a wide range of roles available to people of all interests and abilities within the construction industry. Many skills from other areas can be applicable in some way, so don’t be put off if you are not from a traditional construction background or pathway.
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Taranaki Health Foundation
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In November the Taranaki Health Foundation embarked on a significant long-term partnership with Methanex, culminating in them becoming the naming rights sponsor of Project Maunga’s new neonatal department.
Methanex’s long-term support will make it possible for the Methanex Neonatal Unit to boast state-of-the-art treatment clinical equipment and transportation incubators. It will enable the new Unit larger to better cater to multiple births, and be larger and more comfortable for our mothers and families.
Taranaki Health Foundation general manager Adrian Sole described this as a tremendous gesture of generosity.
"It illustrates Methanex’s commitment to our region and the long-term health and wellbeing of our community.”
“We want Taranaki to have a fully equipped neonatal department, and we want to make sure every newborn has the best chance of survival. Methanex’s fantastic support will help us achieve that."
Visit Taranaki Health Foundation to find out more.
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Successful Renal Unit planting bee
In November the community came together to get stuck in and plant out the gardens at the new Renal Unit before it began welcoming patients. We are hugely grateful to the Taranaki Health Foundation and all the volunteers that helped to bring these gardens to life.
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