About Us

Bowen’s long-standing tradition of caring dates back to 1912 when the original hospital in Bowen Street (opposite Parliament) was built by the late Dr W E Herbert, who operated the hospital with Dr H Hardwick-Smith.

On Dr Herbert’s death in 1933, the land and buildings were sold to the Government and leased by a group of doctors. In 1965 the Government served notice that it required the land and, as a result, the doctors donated their assets to the Bowen Hospital Charitable Trust.

The present site, with its tranquil surroundings and easy access from all directions, was selected for the establishment of a modern, architecturally designed surgical hospital.

In 1999, the hospital became Bowen Hospital Limited, a company jointly owned by the Bowen Hospital Charitable Trust and a group of medical practitioners.

In April 2003, the hospital was acquired by Wakefield Hospital Limited, a listed public company on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.

In August 2005, Wakefield Health Limited was established, with Bowen and Wakefield Hospitals as wholly owned subsidiaries. In January 2006, Wakefield Health merged with Royston Hospital in Hastings.