Palmerston North Acute Mental Health Unit

Palmerston North's acute mental health facility was outdated. Ngā Wai Ngaro replaces it with a purpose-built unit of 28 single rooms, each with an ensuite, anti-ligature fixtures and workspaces, laid out to reduce environmental triggers and able to expand to 36 beds. The mix spans the full range of acute care, from high-care and short-stay beds to flexi beds that switch between the two as need changes. Four internal courtyards bring natural light through the building, and a covered linkway, secure ambulance access and after-hours crisis resolution tie the unit into the wider hospital campus.

The roofline follows the lines of the Ruahine, Tararua and Remutaka ranges, and cultural artwork and narratives developed with Rangitāne iwi carry the local identity through the building. Safety runs throughout, from individualised water control to real-time location alerts for staff in distress and mechanical zoning for infection control.