The government has revealed that it will invest $ 305 million in upgrading and repairing essential infrastructure in the Auckland District Health Board.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was "no secret" that hospitals had been underfunded for many years.

"That left us a legacy of deferred maintenance and aging infrastructure that we can no longer ignore."

In the 2018 budget, 750 million dollars of new financing was reserved for capital projects.

"Today I announce that $ 275 million will be spent at the Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and the Greenlane Clinical Center," Ardern said.

"Auckland DHB will invest another $ 30 million in the next three years."

It was a huge investment that would ensure that the DHB could continue to provide safe, quality care to its 500,000 patients, Ardern said.

The work program includes lift upgrades, new fire protection systems, new electrical substations and water storage.

The project would also improve energy efficiency and help reduce operating costs.

Minister of Health Dr David Clark said that this was much needed work on the often invisible infrastructure that the large hospitals of the DHB maintains.

"Although patients, whanau and staff may not immediately notice a great deal of difference as a result of this recovery program, this means fewer operational failures, more efficiency and responsiveness, and improved safety and resilience.

"This work will form the basis for the DHB to plan for the future care needs of its communities.

"It is a necessary precursor for any future development of the sites of the Auckland City Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Center."

Today's announcement was important to the people of Auckland, he said.

But there is no doubt that more needs to be invested to address a "backlog of building problems across the country" and a growing population.

"This is a government that is committed to our public health service and is prepared to invest in its future so that it is there when people need it."