Wellington's new $285 million regional hospital was formally opened on Friday.
The seven-storey hospital was given approval seven years ago. Construction began in 2004 after buildings up to 80 years old were demolished on the hospital site.
A staged move into the new premises, which began in December, will be complete within weeks when the first operation takes place in the new operating theatres.
Throughout the move Capital and Coast District Health Board has continued to provide services to 900,000 people in the central part of the country.
The board says it plans to turn around its $70 million debt, and the new hospital will help it achieve that.
