Taranaki Cancer Centre
About the Project
A technically complex cancer treatment facility designed and delivered to meet strict clinical standards, improve service capacity, and integrate seamlessly into a live hospital environment.
This purpose-built cancer care facility delivers radiation therapy and oncology services for the Taranaki region, located within a busy hospital campus and focused on patient comfort, cultural safety, and clinical precision.
Te Whatu Ora - Taranaki
Client
November 2025
Completed
Taranaki
Location
The Taranaki Cancer Centre provides a modern, local base for cancer treatment, giving patients in the region access to radiation therapy and oncology services closer to home.
Built within the Te Whatu Ora – Taranaki hospital campus, the facility brings together treatment spaces, consulting rooms, and whānau support areas in one carefully designed environment. The project was delivered to improve both the quality of care and the experience of patients and their families who previously travelled long distances for treatment.
With its calming interior, thoughtful layout, and dedicated approach to cultural safety, the centre reflects the region it serves and the needs of the community. Leighs Construction worked closely with clinical staff and design partners to turn a highly technical brief into a welcoming, efficient space that supports better health outcomes for Taranaki.
A key challenge of the project was the construction of two radiation therapy bunkers, each requiring significant concrete mass, complex reinforcement, and precise service penetrations to meet stringent radiation safety standards. These highly specialised rooms demanded careful sequencing and coordination to ensure compliance and long-term performance. The building also integrates hospital-grade mechanical, electrical, and medical gas systems engineered to support continuous, reliable clinical operations.
Throughout the design and construction phases, Leighs remained in close consultation with specialist engineers, suppliers, and Te Whatu Ora’s clinical teams to ensure every element—from shielding requirements to treatment room workflows—supported safe, efficient cancer care. The result is an advanced clinical environment that blends technical excellence with patient-centred thinking.
Delivering a major project within an active hospital campus required thorough planning and close communication. The site was bordered by essential services and busy patient areas, meaning access, noise, vibration, and safety controls needed to be tightly managed. Leighs worked hand-in-hand with hospital operations teams to schedule works, maintain emergency routes, and ensure the surrounding services remained fully operational throughout construction.
Regular briefings, staged deliveries, and clear traffic management plans helped minimise disruption for hospital staff, patients, and visitors. This collaborative approach allowed construction to proceed efficiently while supporting the ongoing needs of the hospital. The project demonstrates Leighs’ ability to deliver complex health facilities in sensitive, high-risk environments where continuity of care is essential.
The completion of the Taranaki Cancer Centre is a significant milestone for the region. By providing access to advanced cancer treatment locally, the centre reduces travel stress on patients and whānau and supports earlier, more consistent treatment. Leighs prioritised local participation throughout the build, engaging Taranaki-based subcontractors and suppliers wherever possible and contributing to skills and employment within the region.
The final facility supports not only today’s service demand but also future expansion as treatment technologies evolve. It represents a long-term investment in the health and wellbeing of Taranaki communities. Leighs is proud to have delivered a project that strengthens regional healthcare infrastructure and provides a welcoming, culturally responsive environment for people undergoing some of their most challenging moments.
