Auckland and Northland DHBs are stuck between a rock and a hard place

A new report shows budget constraints have resulted in four DHBs in the Northern Region having to prioritise funding over maintenance.

As a result around one-fifth of hospital facilities, including Starship Children's Hospital, are beyond their life expectancy or "not fit for purpose".

Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Ian Powell says he's not surprised by the findings.

He suspected problems of leaking buildings and mould - revealed at Middlemore - would be common in many other hospitals around New Zealand.

He says for the past eight years there's been significant under-funding by the Government...and this is the result of it.