"A very proud day" was how High Country Medical Trust chairman Simon Williamson described the official opening of the Twizel Medical Centre on Saturday.
The new $1.8 million facility, on Mackenzie Dr, involved a major community fundraising effort and much hard work.
"It's been a long time in the making. A lot of people thought it wouldn't come to fruition, but it has,'' Mr Williamson said.
The previous centre was based in a converted house with two consulting rooms and was not up to the demands of a modern-day medical practice.
The spacious and modern new building included seven consulting rooms and triage/minor surgery, X-ray and physiotherapy facilities, with an ambulance turnaround that doubled as a helicopter pad.
It was believed to be the first purpose-built medical centre built in South Canterbury for more than 30 years.
Twizel was also the most remote medical centre from a hospital in New Zealand, which was why the helipad was included, Mr Williamson said.
The facility was only possible because of the community and the support from various benefactors, and he also paid tribute to the work of the other trust members.
Performing the official opening duties, which involved cutting a Mackenzie tartan ribbon with a pair of sheep shears, Mackenzie Mayor Claire Barlow said the board and trust had "performed what was said to be the impossible'' and created an amazing facility.
"I know it wasn't easy and took time. Gee, it was worth the wait,'' she said.
It was a fantastic tribute to the hard work of the people of the community, she said.
Lead nurse Juliet Gardner said the old premises created a lot of challenges, particularly for nurses working in cramped conditions but "what we've got now is just fantastic''.
It was a privilege to work in the new building and staff felt so much more professional.
There were also a lot more people coming through the door because the new centre was much more inviting, she said.
Just as the Maori blessing and karakia were ending, marking the conclusion of formalities, emergency services sirens rang out.
There had been a car crash near Lake Pukaki which resulted in a fatality.