Otago Southland people strongly favour continuing Dunedin's new hospital build, even if the cost were to blow out to $3 billion, according to a recent iAppNetwork poll.

The feeling is particularly strong in Southland with 79.4% favouring the continuation of the project.

This is despite government ministers announcing on Thursday 26th September that Dunedin Hospital's planned new build could cost up to $3 billion, which they said was simply unaffordable so would either need to be reduced or done in stages.

A government report also found the current plans could not be delivered within the current $1.88b budget.

Across Otago and Southland 77% of poll respondents supported the project's continuation despite the possible budget blow out.

8.4% thought more funding should go to improving and expanding community hospital services in the south instead of spending more on Dunedin Hospital. This feeling was particularly strong in the Queenstown (14.3%) and Upper Clutha/Wanaka (14.2%) areas.

6.8% of Otago Southland respondents favoured a scaled back build that kept to the original budget, while 6% preferred a staged redevelopment and refurbishment of the existing hospital.

1.7% had no opinion or didn't know.

Poll results per region were:

Southland

79.4% of Southlanders wanted the new build to continue

6.8% said they would support a staged redevelopment and refurbishment of the existing hospital.

6.5% felt redirecting more funding to improving and expanding community hospital services in the south would be better than spending more on Dunedin Hospital

6% thought forging ahead with a scaled back new build to keep within budget was the best option.

1.3% had no opinion or didn't know.

Queenstown

61.9% of Southlanders wanted the new build to continue

6.1% said they would support a staged redevelopment and refurbishment of the existing hospital.

14.3% felt redirecting more funding to improving and expanding community hospital services in the south would be better than spending more on Dunedin Hospital

11.6% thought forging ahead with a scaled back new build to keep within budget was the best option.

6.1% had no opinion or didn't know.

Central Otago

78.3% of Central Otago people wanted the new build to continue

5.5% said they would support a staged redevelopment and refurbishment of the existing hospital.

7.3% felt redirecting more funding to improving and expanding community hospital services in the south would be better than spending more on Dunedin Hospital

8.1% thought forging ahead with a scaled back new build to keep within budget was the best option.

0.7% had no opinion or didn't know.

Upper Clutha/Wanaka

79.4% of Wanaka wanted the new build to continue

6.8% said they would support a staged redevelopment and refurbishment of the existing hospital.

14.2% felt redirecting more funding to improving and expanding community hospital services in the south would be better than spending more on Dunedin Hospital

6% thought forging ahead with a scaled back new build to keep within budget was the best option.

1.3% had no opinion or didn't know.

Waitaki/Oamaru

90% of Waitaki people wanted the new build to continue

5% said they would support a staged redevelopment and refurbishment of the existing hospital.

0% felt redirecting more funding to improving and expanding community hospital services in the south would be better than spending more on Dunedin Hospital

5% thought forging ahead with a scaled back new build to keep within budget was the best option.

0% had no opinion or didn't know.

Dunedin

87.9% of Dunedin people wanted the new build to continue

3% said they would support a staged redevelopment and refurbishment of the existing hospital.

6.1% felt redirecting more funding to improving and expanding community hospital services in the south would be better than spending more on Dunedin Hospital

3% thought forging ahead with a scaled back new build to keep within budget was the best option.

0% had no opinion or didn't know.

Other (those who took part in the poll but reside outside of Otago or Southland)

69.6% of those who responded to the poll but live outside Otago Southland wanted the new build to continue

8.9% said they would support a staged redevelopment and refurbishment of the existing hospital.

10.7% felt redirecting more funding to improving and expanding community hospital services in the south would be better than spending more on Dunedin Hospital

8.9% thought forging ahead with a scaled back new build to keep within budget was the best option.

2% had no opinion or didn't know.

The iAppNetwork poll was conducted by the Southland App, Queenstown App, Central Otago App, Wanaka App and Waitaki App, between 2-7 October 2024 and attracted 2087 respondents.