A new health and rehabilitation centre has opened at Burnham Military Camp, consolidating medical care, recovery and performance services for Defence personnel in one place.

Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk said the Military Health and Performance Centre, Tû Manawa Ora, is the first combined facility of its kind across the Defence estate. “Kiwis who put on the uniform put their lives on the line,” he said. “They deserve the best support possible to proactively care for their minds and bodies, and to help them get back on their feet when they’re injured.”

The centre houses a comprehensive medical treatment clinic, dental services, physiotherapy and rehabilitation spaces, performance training areas, psychological resilience and counselling services, pastoral care and social work, as well as education, research, simulation and training facilities. It also includes emergency response capability, including ambulance facilities.

Penk said multi‑disciplinary care would “benefit both the prevention and treatment of health issues,” and argued the modern environment would help improve retention and operational readiness. Building at Burnham — the largest military base in the South Island — reflects the camp’s role supporting training, operational deployments, and humanitarian and disaster response, he said.

The $22 million project was completed in 18 months. It was delivered by the Defence Estate and Infrastructure group with construction partner Hawkins New Zealand and alliance partners Ernst & Young, GHD NZ and Beca.

The announcement did not include details on staffing levels, patient capacity or when all services within the centre will be fully operational.