# New Zealand cancer treatment upgrades > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/new-zealand-cancer-treatment-upgrades > Updated: 2026-07-26T22:57:10.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. In June 2026 New Zealand’s health ministry, led by Minister Simeon Brown, broke ground on the Hawke’s Bay Cancer Centre. The project will add the region’s first local radiation‑treatment service, installing a linear accelerator (LINAC) that will let about 500 patients receive therapy locally instead of traveling four hours to Palmerston North. A month later, in July 2026, a new LINAC was installed at Wellington Regional Hospital. The $12.6 million upgrade replaces an older machine and is the first of two LINACs slated for the Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley district. The advanced system uses camera‑based surface guidance to improve targeting of cancers while reducing exposure to healthy tissue. Together, the construction in Hawke’s Bay and the installation in Wellington represent a broader rollout of modern oncology equipment aimed at expanding access, cutting travel burdens, and enhancing cancer treatment outcomes across New Zealand. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-26: Wellington Regional Hospital receives new radiation therapy LINAC Wellington Regional Hospital in New Zealand has installed a new $12.6 million LINAC, enhancing precise radiation therapy for regional cancer patients, with a second unit due later this year. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/wellington-regional-hospital-receives-new-radiation-therapy-linac ### 2026-06-27: Hawke's Bay Cancer Centre construction begins in New Zealand Construction of New Zealand's Hawke’s Bay Cancer Centre began, backed by NZ$44.8 million to deliver local radiation treatment for about 500 patients annually, ending long trips to Palmerston North. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hawkes-bay-cancer-centre-construction-begins-in-new-zealand --- Cite as: New Zealand cancer treatment upgrades. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/new-zealand-cancer-treatment-upgrades