There's to be a major upgrade of mental health facilities at Whangarei Hospital.
The Government has approved a $25 million redevelopment project, which it says will provide more treatment options for mental health patients.
The project includes a new Mental Health Acute unit with 25 beds.
And there will also be new separate sub-acute facilities for patients who are beginning to make a recovery.
Mental health support workers say the improvements are long overdue. The hospital has only one unit at present, used mainly for patients in crisis.
The chief executive of the Northland district health board, Karen Roach, says the new building will have dedicated units for the elderly, and for children.
Mrs Roach says there is currently no psychogeriatric unit, and children and Northland youngsters with acute mental health problems have to go to Starship Hospital in Auckland.
Health Minister Tony Ryall says the money for the project is coming from the DHB's cash reserves and won't require new funding from central Government.
