Health Minister Tony Ryall has backed Auckland District Health Board's decision to spend more than $10 million on a car park instead of core health service.
Mr Ryall announced on Thursday the Government's approval for the car park, to be built at Auckland City Hospital.
Mr Ryall says a lack of parking around the hospital has been causing patients and visitors problems for years.
He says spending money on the car park makes good sense because of the benefit it would provide to patients and their families.
Mr Ryall says he know people would like to see more money going into front-line services, but that is happening, too. National was putting almost $100 million extra into Auckland District Health Board for those services.
