Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich in Dunedin City Council’s new campaign ambulance, named Cliff.
Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton

Dunedin City Council’s Save Our Southern Hospital campaign will arrive in Wellington on Wednesday, where Cliff the Ambulance will deliver a petition to Parliament.

The New Zealand Nurses’ Organization’s petition calling on the government to reverse announced cuts to the city’s new south hospital has been signed by more than 34,000 people.

Officials announced in September that the planned remodel would have to be reduced or done in stages, due to a budget explosion.

The Southern Hospital cares for 350,000 people and is the largest region of any tertiary hospital in New Zealand. Trains health professionals for all of New Zealand.

On the campaign website, organizers said construction of the Southern Hospital was neither expensive nor extravagant. It has 410 night beds, 53 emergency beds and 15 operating rooms.

Cliff, the old ambulance of San Juancreated as part of the council’s campaign), will deliver the petition on the steps of Parliament around midday. NZNO delegate Linda Smillie, Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher and Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark will be on board the ambulance and take part in the handover.