Prime Minister Christopher Luxon remained quiet yesterday on when his government would make a decision around the new Dunedin hospital.
It is 10 weeks today since the shock announcement about the government scaling back the hospital build to either building a hospital to a reduced $1.9 billion budget or restoring the current hospital.
At the time, Health Minister Shane Reti said the government would receive advice on options in coming weeks.
As of the start of this week the government was yet to receive that advice.
Mr Luxon stuck to the script yesterday and would not provide any definitive details or dates for the decision.
He was in Waimumu to speak at the Restoring Farmer Confidence meeting with Trade Minister Todd McClay.
Mr Luxon did not provide any specifics, and instead said he was confident in the build and budget.
Mr Luxon said he acknowledged the worry over the build.
"I appreciate it is of concern to the people of Dunedin and broader Otago.
"But as I’ve said we are committed to building a hospital in Dunedin but we are going to do it under the budget that was set," Mr Luxon said.
"They’re working it through and it’s a complex issue. There was a government that did nothing for six years on the project.
"We are inheriting a mess and we’re sorting our way through it," he said.
Mr Luxon said the new Dunedin hospital would be built, but it had to take other region’s healthcare needs into consideration.
Mr Luxon said he was confident in Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and its performance.
