This means we look across the health system to consider how research can be prioritised, designed, conducted and applied in the most effective way to achieve the aspiration of pae ora, and lead initiatives to enable this to happen.

Strategic leadership for health research is led out of Manatū Hauora’s new Evidence, Research and Innovation Directorate (established on 1 July 2022) and is overseen by the Ministry’s Chief Science Advisor, Dr Ian Town.

This is an exciting new resource within the Ministry and the team responsible for this area will be growing significantly in size throughout 2023.  

We work closely in collaboration with newly established teams in Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority) and Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand).

Our focus is on providing effective leadership to strengthen research in the new health system, in line with the priorities of New Zealand Health Research Strategy (2017–2027) and in response to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the needs and aspirations of Māori, Pacific and other underserved groups.   

We also have close working relationships with the Health Research Council of New Zealand (the HRC) as the primary funder of health research, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as the agency that oversees the wider Research, Science and Innovation system, and other agencies with an interest in health research such as the Health Quality and Safety Commission (HQSC) and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). 

Visit Strategic initiatives to see some of the initiatives that are planned or underway.