Whangarei Hospital officially opened its new Jim Carney Cancer Treatment centre today.

Members of the public raised over $3 million of the $5 million needed to build the state of the art oncology unit.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says he's humbled by the fundraising efforts of the community.

"The whole community has got behind it just hearing about a lady who walked for nearly 500km around Northland who had cancer for many years, and still does, and raised a lot of money and raised a lot of awareness."

A large crowd gathered at Whangarei Hospital today to celebrate the official opening of the Jim Carney Cancer Treatment Centre.

Northland District Health Board CEO Nick Chamberlain says he's pleased the five year project has finally come to fruition.

"People who have really poured their hearts and souls into the fundraising campaign into building the centre itself, so it's really nice to see the finished product."