6,000 tonnes of material recycled through nurses’ home demolition

Nearly 6,000 tonnes of concrete and metal have been recycled through the demolition of the Hinepare Nurses’ Home and Tuakana Annex in Napier, which are now complete. 

Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has overseen the demolition of both buildings on the summit of Mataruahou (Hospital Hill) in Napier.  

LINZ Leader Project Delivery Matt Bradley said the team had a goal of recycling 90 percent of material from the two sites but was pleased to have surpassed that goal with a final rate of nearly 95 percent recycled. 

“The nurses’ home in particular provided a great opportunity for recycling, because it was nearly all concrete and steel, which are easily recyclable materials,” he said. 

“Concrete can be crushed and used for footpaths and roads while the metal we’ve recycled can be melted down and used for new building products, there’s a lot of options there.”

The nurses’ home and annex are two of around 900 properties that LINZ manages in the Treaty Settlement Landbank. 

The nurses’ home is around 70 years old and was the last building remaining from the old Napier Hospital which was demolished in 2015 by private developers. The hospital closed in 1997 and the nurses’ home was used as backpacker accommodation until 2012 when it was found to be an earthquake risk. 

Now that demolition is complete, the two properties will be offered to Mana Ahuriri Trust to purchase as part of its Treaty settlement.