Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

All Access Weekly

Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
See all offers
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Demolition starts at former QE Health site in Rotorua

By Ben Fraser
Rotorua Daily Post·
18 Sep, 2023 11:37 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Autoplay in
      5
      Disable Autoplay
      Cancel Video
      Demolishing buildings on the QE Health site at the Rotorua Lakefront.

      Demolition has started at the former QE Health site at the Rotorua Lakefront.

      The facility, originally called Queen Elizabeth Hospital, opened 80 years ago as a convalescent home for soldiers returning from World War II.

      Landowners Pukeroa Lakefront Holdings Ltd (PLHL) said consents were obtained and a contractor appointed for a “comprehensive demolition” last month following a six-month process.

      Chairman David Tapsell said asbestos was present in the building and the demolition process was “extremely complex”.

      The buildings of the former QE Health facility are being demolished.  Photo / Andrew Warner
      The buildings of the former QE Health facility are being demolished. Photo / Andrew Warner
      Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

      All Access Weekly

      Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
      Pay just
      $15.75
      $2
      per week ongoing
      See all offers
      Already a subscriber? Sign in here
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      “As a result, the contractor is working through a highly controlled, phased process to complete removal of the buildings.

      “The Crown has provided a contribution to assist with the demolition of the site, given their historical ownership of those buildings and an agreement to clean the site to the state it was when gifted originally in 1880.

      “QEH has also made a contribution also, and PLHL is grateful for these,” Tapsell said.

      Pukeroa said it couldn’t comment on the specific Crown contribution due to the ongoing tendering process.

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      The demolition works will be completed in early 2024, and Pukeroa was currently undertaking feasibility studies for future developments at the site.

      “PLHL is pleased it can facilitate removal of these buildings, which see a huge improvement in the way our city connects with the recently completed waterfront, opened Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, the new QEH facility and Lake Rotorua,” Tapsell said.

      Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Nurses at work during World War II (1945) at the Soldiers' Convalescent Hospital in Rotorua, now know as Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
      15053t9 Q.E.2 Hospital Rotorua
PHOTO BY TRACEY ROBINSON DAILY POST


ROT 16mar04 - QUEEN Elizabeth Hospital (now QE Health).
ROT 29oct07 - RDP 13Mar10 - RDP 18May10 -
RGP 17Apr15 - HISTORY: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, now QE Health, has seen many changes since this photo was taken in 2004. PHOTO/FILE.
      Queen Elizabeth Health. Weeds in front of one of the dilapidated buildings. Photo/Andrew Warner.
      Queen Elizabeth Health Hydrotherapy pool. Photo/Andrew Warner.
      Queen Elizabeth Health first opened in 1942 and was meant to operate for 15 years. Photo/Andrew Warner.
      Queen Elizabeth Health. An old sign next to old light switches in the dated building. Photo/Andrew Warner.
      Queen Elizabeth Health Rotorua. The area where mud is mixed for the mud baths. Photo/Andrew Warner.
      IN PERSON: QE Health Patients Association representative Jacqui Aimers and Annette King check out QE Health. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 270913BF12
      150710aw7 Queen Elizabeth Health.  15 July 2010  The Daily Post Picture by Andrew Warner.
RDP 16Jul10 - HOTEL SITE? The QE Health hospital site where a hotel could be built in the future.  PICTURE / ANDREW WARNER 150710AW8
RDP 31Jul10 -
      One of the Rachael spa pools at QE Health. Photo/Andrew Warner.
      Medical equipment ready for use at QE Health. Photo/Andrew Warner.
      QE Health is expected to move to a new building this year. Photo/Andrew Warner.
      QE Health hospital site in 2006. Photo / File

      Image 1 of 13: Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Nurses at work during World War II (1945) at the Soldiers' Convalescent Hospital in Rotorua, now know as Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

      Opening in 1942, the building on the corner of Whakaue St and Memorial Drive was only meant to be used for 10 to 15 years, but it was still the not-for-profit’s home 80 years later.

      Since 1948, it functioned as a combined spa and hospital specialising in rheumatic and arthritic complaints, with governance changing numerous times.

      QE Health moved to a new $19 million purpose-built health and wellness facility on Hinemaru St earlier this year.

      Save

        Share this article

      Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

      Sport

      Rugby showdown: Local teams gear up for Baywide semis

      09 Jul 06:00 AM
      Rotorua Daily Post

      Rain train: Weather watches keep rolling in for Bay of Plenty

      09 Jul 01:32 AM
      Rotorua Daily Post

      'Ecstatic' reunion: Cat found after year-long disappearance

      09 Jul 12:00 AM

      From early mornings to easy living

      sponsored
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Recommended for you
      Armed police cordon off Hamilton street after serious firearms incident
      New Zealand

      Armed police cordon off Hamilton street after serious firearms incident

      09 Jul 11:42 AM
      Red Bull parts ways with longtime F1 boss Christian Horner
      Formula 1

      Red Bull parts ways with longtime F1 boss Christian Horner

      09 Jul 10:00 AM
      Against the odds: Maroons triumph in epic State of Origin decider
      Rugby League

      Against the odds: Maroons triumph in epic State of Origin decider

      09 Jul 09:30 AM
      Jacinda Ardern says she'll provide evidence to Covid Royal Commission
      Politics

      Jacinda Ardern says she'll provide evidence to Covid Royal Commission

      09 Jul 08:35 AM
      Lotto numbers revealed in giant $10m Powerball draw
      New Zealand

      Lotto numbers revealed in giant $10m Powerball draw

      09 Jul 08:32 AM

      Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

      Rugby showdown: Local teams gear up for Baywide semis

      Rugby showdown: Local teams gear up for Baywide semis

      09 Jul 06:00 AM

      Whakarewarewa dominated Te Puna with a 57-10 win in Rotorua.

      Rain train: Weather watches keep rolling in for Bay of Plenty

      Rain train: Weather watches keep rolling in for Bay of Plenty

      09 Jul 01:32 AM
      'Ecstatic' reunion: Cat found after year-long disappearance

      'Ecstatic' reunion: Cat found after year-long disappearance

      09 Jul 12:00 AM
      'Horrible': Memorial for deaf, blind man killed in alleged hit-and-run is destroyed

      'Horrible': Memorial for deaf, blind man killed in alleged hit-and-run is destroyed

      08 Jul 10:50 PM
      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
      sponsored

      Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • NZME Events
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

      All Access Weekly

      Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
      Pay just
      $15.75
      $2
      per week ongoing
      See all offers
      Already a subscriber? Sign in here
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search