The Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit provides an inpatient and outpatient spinal rehabilitation service for adults and adolescents with an acquired spinal cord injury.

The Spinal Unit is one of only two specialist spinal rehabilitation units in New Zealand.  Our patient catchment area extends from the far North down to Gisborne and across the Central North Island.  The lower North Island and South Island is serviced by Burwood Spinal Unit, located in Christchurch.

The Auckland Spinal Unit is a 20 bed unit and admits approximately 60 patients with new injuries each year. 

Patients who are discharged from the Spinal Unit or who move into the catchment area are followed up regularly by our outpatient service. 

Rehabilitation services are provided by an experienced inter-disciplinary team.

Services provided at the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit:

• Spinal Cord Injury - Inpatient Service
• Spinal Cord Injury - Outpatient Service

We are aware that visits from family and friends have an important part to play in your rehabilitation.  However, a patient's condition or rehabilitation programme may restrict visiting times.  It is important to respect the privacy of other patients.  Visitors are welcome at the Unit:

10am to 10pm: Sunday to Thursday
10am to 11pm: Friday, Saturdays and Public holidays

Please ask visitors to respect visiting hours and ensure that children are under the supervision of an adult at all times.

FROM: Middlemore Hospital to Auckland Spinal Unit

Turn right out of Middlemore Hospital and continue on Hospital Road
Turn right Mangere Road, Otahuhu
Turn right Great South Road, Otahuhu
Turn left Bairds Road, Papatoetoe
End: Turn left into Auckland Spinal Unit, 30 Bairds Road, Otara, Auckland

FROM: Auckland City Hospital to Auckland Spinal Unit

Turn right onto Grafton Road, Grafton, Auckland
Bear left Southern Motorway, Grafton
Proceed Southern Motorway
Bear left Highbrook Offramp, Otara
Turn off taking MIT, Otara exit
Turn right Bairds Road, Otara
End: Turn right into Auckland Spinal Unit, 30 Bairds Road, Otara, Auckland

Parking and disabled parking is available at both entrances to the Spinal Unit.  We ask that you do not park in the ambulance parking bay directly in front of the entrance to the ward.  It is preferable that you park behind the physiotherapy gym area.  Please keep your car locked and do not leave any valuables in your car.  Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit is not responsible for stolen or lost property.

There are four modest motel units available (on a first come, first served basis) on site.  These are used for family and friends visiting from out of Auckland, patients attending outpatient's appointments or trialling home leave outside the Auckland area.  For more information on arranging accommodation and costs please refer to the Patient Information Booklet. 

Security guards are located on-site, 24 hours / 7 days per week.

Useful Links

Websites - Education and Organisations

- New Zealand Spinal Trust
- The Association for Spinal Concerns (TASC)
- Spinal Cord Injury Information Network (University of Birmingham (USA)
- Magee Rehabilitation Centre (Educational Manual, USA)
- Paralysed Veterans Association (USA)
- Sci-Info-Pages (Education material for patients and caregivers)


Websites - Recreation

- Back Up Trust “Know no Boundaries”
- Parafed Auckland Branch 
- d-ability.org  
- Mouth painter