Prime Minister Christopher Luxon remained quiet last Wednesday on when his government would make a decision around the new Dunedin hospital.
It was 10 weeks since the shock announcement that the government was considering scaling back the new hospital build to either a $1.9 billion budget or restoring the current hospital.
At the time, Health Minister Shane Reti said the government would receive advice on options in coming weeks.
As of the start of last week the government was yet to receive that advice.
Mr Luxon stuck to the script and would not provide any definitive details or dates for the decision.
He was in Waimumu to speak at the Restoring Farmer Confidence meeting with Trade Minister Todd McClay.
Mr Luxon did not provide any specifics, and instead said he was confident in the build and budget.
He acknowledged the worry over the build.
"I appreciate it is of concern to the people of Dunedin and broader Otago.
"But as I’ve said, we are committed to building a hospital in Dunedin, but we are going to do it under the budget that was set," Mr Luxon said.
"They’re working it through and it’s a complex issue. There was a government that did nothing for six years on the project.
"We are inheriting a mess and we’re sorting our way through it," he said.
Mr Luxon said the new Dunedin hospital would be built, but the government had to take other regions’ healthcare needs into consideration.
Mr Luxon said he was confident in Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and its performance.
