Ms Ardern, attending the Labour Party conference in Dunedin at the weekend, was asked about delays to the project.
Southern Partnership Group chairman Pete Hodgson said recently a master site plan for the new hospital due at the end of October had been delayed by two weeks.
Ms Ardern said the Government had set goals for the project and was "very much hoping to stick to them".
"It’s a very significant project. Of course, we have to make sure we get it right, but we are ambitious about the timelines to be able to reach those milestones."
Ms Ardern also responded to questions about KiwiBuild in the South.
The Otago Daily Times reported on Saturday the South Island’s much-heralded first foray into KiwiBuild home ownership had been a bit of a fizzer.
So few prospective home buyers had entered the ballot for 10 KiwiBuild house and land packages in the Northlake suburb of Wanaka that the developer has asked to extend the ballot period by 10 days.
Ms Ardern said she understood some of the early KiwiBuild ballots further north "came in very close to the end".
"That might be people making those last-minute decisions."
There were similar issues in Wanaka as there were in Auckland.
"We need to bring in more supply.
"Definitely the need exists."
