Hutt Hospital's downsized neonatal project costs more than the original full redevelopment

Hutt Hospital's neonatal-only upgrade costs about $950,000 more than the original $9.5m budget for the full maternity and neonatal redevelopment agreed in 2020. Health Minister Simeon Brown rescoped the project in January after costs tripled to $31m. The maternity ward upgrade has been dropped, with no confirmed timeline. A Treasury report last year described the project as "off track."