The site of Dunedin's hospital rebuild will not be known until later this month.
Dunedin Hospital. Photo: RNZ
An announcement had been expected this week but Cabinet has delayed its decision while it gives further consideration to the project's business planning.
Speculation is rife that the new hospital will occupy the site of Cadbury's former Dunedin factory, which ceased production last month.
And Pete Hodgson, who chairs the Southern Partnership Group - which steers the rebuild, has previously said it would be built on land north of the central Dunedin's Octagon and south of the existing facility.
Dunedin residents and those further afield from Otago and Southland have expressed frustration in waiting for details of the project, which would cost more than $1 billion.
Mr Hodgson said he was irritated at the delay in informing the public of the proposed site.
"It's a bit irritating because the public of Dunedin want to know and we will know later this month but I had hoped it would be towards the beginning of the month and actually it's going to be well into the month before Cabinet had a chance to make its decision," he said.
"I do know that people are wanting to know because they keep asking me."
The site was now unlikely to be announced until the second half of this month, while Cabinet considers other matters related to the rebuild, he said.
"It's details around the way the business plan for the hospital is being put together. It's important stuff, but you would have to say it's not exactly exciting."
The delay in publicly announcing the site would not affect the timing of the rebuild, he said.
The government has promised the first ground will be broken on the site by the end of its first term in 2020.
