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Home > About Health New Zealand
About Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
We’re building a future health system that will perform better for all of us. We know what we seek to do is bold and courageous. That is why we seek to inspire talented people to join us – when we work together, anything is possible.
Photo location: Rotorua, Bay of Plenty - Credit: Tourism NZ Visual Library
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Transforming New Zealand’s health service
New Zealand - Aotearoa has a highly-skilled, dedicated and professional health workforce delivering exceptional care.
However, there are opportunities to make improvements. We need to build a future health system that will perform better for all of us.
A system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. Firmly grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to serving the entire population of New Zealand.
We’re shaping a future health system that will be simpler and more coordinated, allowing for better and more consistent care, and that will support all New Zealanders to live longer and have the best possible quality of life.
Te Whatu Ora is “the weaving of wellness”.
Click here to read about how we were named
Who we are
Established on 1 July 2022, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora leads the day-to-day management and running of the health system across Aotearoa, with functions delivered at local, district, regional, and national levels.
We weave functions of the 20 former District Health Boards into regional divisions and district offices, ensuring continuity of services.
We are also responsible for improving services and equitable outcomes across the health system and upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
How we work
Hospital and specialist services are planned nationally so they can be delivered more consistently across the country. Services are then implemented and delivered at a local level.
Primary health, wellbeing, community-based services and contracts are planned nationally and then purchased through the four regional divisions of Health New Zealand.
Each region works alongside local communities to develop and implement plans based on community needs and aspirations to improve the health and well-being of every New Zealander.
Find out more about our health services here
New Zealand has about 240 Maori health providers and additional disability service providers delivering health services predominantly to Māori communities.
Traditional healers incorporate the spiritual dimension in assessment and therapy and do so in a culturally relevant way.
Our Purpose
New Zealand has a high-quality publicly funded health system and a highly skilled, dedicated and professional health workforce. But we know there are opportunities to make improvements. That’s why we are building a national health system that will perform better for all of us.
Te Pae Tata (Interim New Zealand Health Plan) outlines the first steps to becoming a health service delivery system that better serves all of New Zealand’s people and communities.
Transforming the health system will create a more equitable, accessible, cohesive and people-centred system that will improve the health and well-being of all New Zealanders. Some of the key principles of the plan are listed below.
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We'd love for you to join the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora whānau (family).
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