Delays to Clyde’s primary birth care project are ongoing, and the anticipated opening date pushed to early 2027 according to Health New Zealand.

Health New Zealand Te Waipounamu regional head of infrastructure Dr Rob Ojala said construction of the new primary birthing unit in Clyde is expected to commence in late 2025, with an anticipated opening date of early 2027. 

“Design work is underway to ensure the unit meets a more contemporary model of care.

“Resource consents for the original Clyde birthing unit design were lodged with the Central Otago District Council.

“Further design work then commenced following the announcement of extra government funding for the project in June 2024, and we are working closely with the council to ensure any design changes are appropriate.”

In July 2024, Rob said they expected to welcome families to the unit in 2026.

The project is overdue for expectant mothers in the district.

In August 2022, public meetings (in person and online) in Central shared the proposed design for community feedback. 

At those meetings, the timeframe for the build was said to be ‘a year or so’. 

In May 2023 Southern director of midwifery Karen Ferraccioli said the new facility was expected to open late in 2024, over two years after it was initially going to be ready. 

In June 2024 the Wānaka birthing unit Rākai Kahukura was opened, and is an option for Central mums-to-be, with no complications to give birth at, and is an hour drive from most Central towns.

The eight bedroom lodge in Albert town was purchased by in June 2022 and after several delays it has been converted to a primary birth centre managed by Health New Zealand (similar to the Central Otago Maternity Unit in Alexandra, formerly Charlotte Jean). 

Statistics New Zealand figures show there were 234 babies born in Central Otago in 2024. 

Read more: Clyde birthing unit timeline shifts again.

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