Savills News

Savills lists approved site for planned $300m+ Wānaka Health Precinct

Includes 1.3-hectare site, resource consents, and project IP for the master-planned Southern Lakes medical hub.

Savills New Zealand has announced that the land development opportunity for Wānaka Health Precinct is now for sale, with final consent from Queenstown Lakes District Council granted last year.

As an approved master-planned development, initial planning and entitlement risks typically associated with projects of this scale are significantly reduced.

Occupying approximately 1.3 hectares and masterplanned by Wānaka investment company Roa, the development opportunity includes plans for five principal buildings offering a combined gross floor area of approximately 16,000m², plus an additional car parking structure of more than 300 spaces.

Ryan Geddes, Managing Director at Savills New Zealand, says the sale represents an exciting opportunity for investors and developers to transform healthcare across New Zealand’s Southern Lakes region.

“The Wānaka Health Precinct is a development born out of necessity,” he says. “Wānaka is internationally renowned as a year-round adventure destination. You’ve got skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and a truly spectacular landscape that attracts pretty much everyone - from tourists and families to older folk looking for premium retirement options. But it sits at the heart of what is essentially a healthcare desert. Access to major hospitals is limited, and specialist care is more than 3 hours away by road.”

The precinct is designed to establish a robust healthcare campus servicing Wānaka, Queenstown, Central Otago, and the broader Southern Lakes region. This reduces the reliance on distant major hospitals and will bring essential medical services closer to the communities that need them.

Plans for the Wānaka Health Precinct encompass a private hospital, surgical theatres, emergency care, diagnostic imaging, specialist medical consulting suites, allied healthcare facilities and complementary commercial accommodation. The development cost is estimated at NZ$300 million, with a significant return on investment anticipated due to strong demand. As the only comprehensive healthcare facility in the area, it will serve a rapidly growing population of residents and tourists.

“The vision for this development was actually born from a genuine family medical emergency that the developer experienced,” says Geddes. “They realised that the region’s healthcare infrastructure has not kept pace with wider growth and prosperity, and decided to change that.”

This follows Health New Zealand’s announcement in April to evaluate public healthcare options based on Central Lakes' projected health needs.

Martin Hebler, Associate Director, Commercial Sales, Savills adds, “Wānaka’s population is growing rapidly - even faster than Queenstown. And its strong international tourism economy means the demand for accessible healthcare infrastructure will only increase, so from that perspective, this is an incredibly high-value prospect. But beyond that, it’s also a rare opportunity for an incoming developer or investor to deliver positive impact and benefit to the communities around it, in one of our country’s most desirable regions.”

Wānaka Health Precinct will be sold by Deadline Private Treaty, closing Friday 18 December 2026 at 4:00pm (unless sold prior).

-ends-

 

For further information contact:

Holly Fraser

E:Holly.Fraser@oneplusone.co.nz

P: 021 085 53124

About Savills

For over 160 years, Savills has been helping people thrive through place and spaces. ​  

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, we have more than 40,000 professionals collaborating across over 70 countries, delivering unrivalled coverage and expertise to the world of commercial and prime residential real estate. ​  

By applying world research data and trends to local and global settings, we’re able to empower our clients with insights from the forefront of the industry – bringing their aspirations to life through innovative, tailor-made solutions. 

Whether we are working with a global corporate looking to expand, an investor seeking to sustainably optimise their portfolio, or a family trying to find a new home, we help our clients make better property decisions.    

Recommended articles