Prime Minister Bill English and Health Minister Jonathan Coleman are coming to Dunedin today to make a big election promise about the Dunedin Hospital rebuild.

The pair will promise to spend at least $1billion on a new hospital, the Otago Daily Times understands.

There is no promise of a central city rebuild.

Jonathan Coleman.

It is understood to be a full rebuild of the ward block and clinical services building.It will not be built on the existing site, it is understood.

The Dunedin City Council is lobbying for a central city hospital, arguing it is in the best interests of the city.

Mr English will say his preference is to find a central city site, but officials will also consider shifting the main hospital to the Wakari Hospital site.

The Government aims to complete the build in 2027, but this depends on the location.

The pair will also announce about $2million in further stop-gap funding to keep the existing hospital running.

"We are also taking steps to support the existing Dunedin Hospital while the rebuild takes place," Dr Coleman said.

The rebuild announcement comes after the Cabinet considered an early stage business case outlining three options. The third option, involving refurbishing the ward block, appears to have been taken off the table. That option had the slowest timeframe of the three, with completion in 2031. Mr English and Dr Coleman will emphasise the role of local doctors and nurses in guiding the design of the new build.

There would also be opportunities for patient input.

"Otago University has a close working relationship with the Southern DHB — as do the polytechs — and I expect that will get even closer as the more detailed planning gets under way," Dr Coleman said.

The ODT understands the question of where to build the hospital remains genuinely unsettled, with no decision by project heads yet. The Dunedin North MP David Clark said that there had been unacceptable delays and secrecy.

"In 2014, I became concerned about ongoing delays in the rebuild project and sought answers from then minister Tony Ryall."

He gave assurances a business case would be before Cabinet by the end of 2014.

Dr Clark called for the release of the full business-case document to allow greater transparency.

Southern District Health Board commissioner Kathy Grant could not be contacted yesterday.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz