Tuakana demolition well underway

Our demolition of the Tuakana Hostel in Napier is well underway, with the team completing the internal stripping of the building and now starting the physical demolition.

Project lead Alex Cresswell says throughout the demolition there will be a focus on recycling and salvaging as much material as possible.

“Already we’ve salvaged a significant amount of native timber from the west wing of the building, and this has gone to a timber restoration specialist to allow it to be reused. 

Our contractors, Scope Group, estimate we’ll be able to salvage over 150 cubic metres of timber and recycle 300 tonnes of concrete – about the same weight as 350 Suzuki Swifts.

The Tuakana Hostel was built in the 1930s and was originally part of the wider Napier Hospital complex. 

The hospital closed in 1998, and we demolished the neighbouring Tuakana Annex and Hinepare Nurses’ Home in 2023. 

“Due to its age and condition, the hostel was no longer able to be occupied but it’s fantastic we are able to salvage and recycle so much material to go to other uses,” says Cresswell.

We expect work on the hostel to be completed by late April.

The hostel, annex and nurses’ home are three of around 900 properties LINZ manages in the Treaty Settlement Landbank. Properties come into the Landbank when a government department decides it no longer needs them and there is a possibility they could be used as either cultural or commercial redress in a Treaty settlement. 

When work is completed, this property will be offered to Mana Ahuriri Trust as part of its Treaty settlement.