Wellington Regional Hospital opening

May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language. Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni – and as it is morning [sign].

May I specifically greet you: Sir John Anderson, Chair of the Capital and Coast District Health Board; Hon Tony Ryall, Minister of Health; Ken Whelan, Chief Executive Officer of the District Health Board, and Shaun Drummond, Chief Operating Officer; Liz Maddison, Project Director; members of the district health board; Your Worship Kerry Prendergast, Mayor of Wellington; Hon Annette King, MP for Rongotai and former Minister of Health; distinguished guests otherwise; ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting my wife Susan and I to the opening of the new Wellington Regional Hospital this morning.

I have been asked to officially open this new enterprise, and before doing so I would like to speak briefly of the significance of today’s events.

I should first state that I am well acquainted with this hospital because in the past dozen years I have spent some reasonable time here, on three separate occasions.

In 1997, I was here for heart surgery. In 2002, my wife Susan and I were both treated here after a serious car accident. And last year, I attended the fracture clinic after breaking a bone in my ankle.

On each occasion I have been on the receiving end of great skill, great care and great consideration from the staff of Wellington Hospital.  And when I say staff, I mean all the staff of this hospital from the medical, surgical and nursing staff through to the orderlies and everyone who ensures a complex organisation such as this one continues to operate. I can also report that on 16 February, 22 days ago, our family added a new member with the birth here of a new granddaughter.

I would like to pay tribute to the staff of the hospital this morning.  It is not for the way they have looked after me—as grateful as I am—but for the way they have continued to carry out their usual duties in the midst of a building site.

Susan and I are officially close neighbours of the hospital, just over the fence at Government House.  As many no doubt know, Government House is closed while a major conservation project is completed and we are in the position of needing to live somewhere else meantime.

For the 3000-plus staff of the hospital it has been a matter of staying put and getting on with the job at hand—while also taking part in planning for services in new parts of the hospital.

I am sure that this cannot have been an easy task. But I am told that staff have carried out all the service moves—on time, according to plan and in a safe way for themselves and their patients.

There is an apposite Māori saying that describes well the challenge I am sure has been faced.  In Māori it goes:

Whaia te iti kahurangi
Ki te tuohu, me maunga teitei

This literally means:

Pursue your treasures
But if you falter, let it be before a lofty mountain.

I think it is fair to say that the staff of Wellington Hospital have climbed their Everest—and have made it safely back down again!

This hospital serves some 250,000 people living in Wellington City, the Porirua Basin and the Kapiti Coast—as well as providing specialist care for those in the lower North Island and upper South Island.

I am told that the general public will be invited to come and have a look at their new hospital on Sunday—and that this open day has been timed to coincide with the annual Newtown Festival.

Wellington’s public hospital has stood here in the heart of Newtown for more than a century and a quarter – since 1881.

The buildings on this site replaced the first hospital in Wellington, built in 1847 in Thorndon, where Wellington Girls’ College is today.

I think it can safely be said that the history of Wellington’s public hospital has been one of constant expansion.

The centennial history, A Hundred Years of Healing, published in 1947, is the story of a hospital constantly growing—constructing new wings and new buildings.

In 1889, a passing wit, (I suspect from Australia), said of Wellington:  “It is an enterprising city. It has a hospital with more than a hundred beds, a lunatic asylum, and a prison and according to what we hear, all these institutions are well patronised.”

Now in the new millennium, Wellington Hospital has a truly 21st century facility.

But the past has not been forgotten. I understand a huge 36 metre long timeline is up on the wall near the Radiology Department to honour the hospital’s history.

In April last year, I had the privilege of unveiling the new home of the much-loved Royal Doulton tiles featuring nursery rhyme characters that were salvaged from the old children’s hospital.  The tiles are now on a wall near the cafeteria, where they form the link between the past and present parts of the hospital.

In conclusion, would like to congratulate the board, the management and all of the staff on making that leap between the old and the new with such professionalism. 

You should be proud to celebrate what has been achieved. It is a terrific accomplishment that will continue to serve Wellington and Wellingtonians for many, many years to come.

And on that note I will close in New Zealand’s first language, Maōri, by offering greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.

To view more images from the opening click here.