Today we launched the New Zealand Health Plan.

The Plan gives effect to the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Health 2024-27. The GPS was launched last year in July and sets out the government’s expectations and objectives for the health system to achieve improved health outcomes for all New Zealanders.

The New Zealand Health Plan complements other plans already published including health targets, workforce, infrastructure investment, and health delivery, and builds on the strong platform created by the interim New Zealand Health Plan | Te Pae Tata since 2022.

The vision is for high quality, compassionate, affordable healthcare, provided when it is needed and in a convenient location. The plan calls for health services we fund and deliver to be more integrated and efficient to deliver more healthcare for patients, families and communities.

In addition to health targets and mental health and addiction targets, the plan also talks to our ability to influence a wide range of modifiable risk factors like alcohol use and smoking, and on reducing the impacts of five diseases that account for most of New Zealanders ill-health (cancer, diabetes, mental health, respiratory and cardiovascular issues).

The New Zealand Health Plan has been developed in consultation with clinicians, agencies and health experts, and is required under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. It has been audited by Audit New Zealand and approved by the Minister of Health.