Hauora: Update from the Ministry of Health - September 2026
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- 5 min read
Kia ora koutou As winter draws to a close, I want to acknowledge the dedication of our health workforce as they continue to manage a late surge in influenza cases across the country. Thank you to everyone providing high-quality care and support during this period of increased demand. The recently announced decision to fund flu vaccination for all children under five is a welcome investment in the protection of our youngest New Zealanders. |  Audrey SonersonDirector-General of Health |
As we move through the pre-election period, our focus remains firmly on delivery. The Ministry will continue to provide trusted, evidence-based advice, while upholding the political neutrality that underpins New Zealand's public service. This commitment ensures we can continue supporting the Government of the day and delivering for the people and communities we serve. In recent weeks, I have enjoyed connecting with people across the health system, including a visit to Starship Children’s Hospital. Another highlight was attending GP26, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners national conference. This was an opportunity to reflect on recent progress in primary care over the last 18 months – including workforce initiatives, improvements to after-hours and urgent care, funding increases, long-awaited updates to the capitation funding formula, and the introduction of the new primary care access target. Below, I’ve outlined a snapshot of a few of the things the Ministry has supported delivery of over the past few months:  Paediatric oncology team and senior clinical leaders with Audrey at Starship hospital. |
Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy launch In August, I attended the launch of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2026-2036 and accompanying Implementation Plan (2026/27-2028/29) at Parliament. The Strategy sets a clear 10-year direction for improving mental health, addiction and wellbeing outcomes for New Zealanders. The event brought together people from across the sector, including community organisations and those with lived experience. I was encouraged by the strong support for the Strategy and the shared commitment to improve outcomes for New Zealanders, their whānau and communities. I look forward to seeing the Strategy put into action through the Implementation Plan and hearing more about the progress and impact being made over the coming years.  From left: Kiri Richards, Associate Deputy Director-General, Mental Health, Addiction and Suicide Prevention, Audrey Sonerson, Director-General of Health, Hon. Matt Doocey, Minister for Mental Health and Dr Andrew Old, Deputy Director-General, Public Health & Mental Health. |
Mental Health Act The focus on improving mental health outcomes is also reflected in the Mental Health Act 2026 which received Royal Assent on 9 July 2026. It has a commencement date of 1 July 2028 to give mental health services and other parts of the system time to prepare for the changes required under the new legislation, which aims to ensure people receive support in a way that is safe, effective and centred on recovery. The Act is the result of many years of work following the 2018 Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction, which found the previous legislation no longer reflected best practice or the expectations of people accessing mental health services. Ultimately, success will be measured by the experiences of the people it serves. We are striving for a mental health system that supports people and whānau to flourish. Read About the Mental Health Act on the Ministry of Health website. |
Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group For those of us with ageing parents, whānau or friends, it really brings the importance of the Government’s aged care work programme closer to home. The number of New Zealanders aged over 75 is expected to nearly double over the next two decades, making it important to begin planning now for a sustainable aged care system. |  |
The Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group has recently released its final report, ‘A place to grow old: Securing the future of aged care’, at an event in Auckland with Associate Minister of Health Hon Casey Costello. The report contains 40 recommendations to improve access to high-quality, affordable aged care and ensure services can meet the needs of a growing and ageing population. Behind each recommendation is a drive to ensure older New Zealanders can continue to live with dignity, independence and connection to their communities. I am proud of the secretariat support, policy advice and analysis our people in the Ministry provided the Group as they developed the report. The Ministry will also lead the next phase of work, focused on providing advice to the Government on options to reform the aged care system and respond to recommendations in the report. Read the Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group report and recommendations on the Ministry of Health website. |
Māori Health Strategy 2026 - Whiria te Ora The launch of the Māori Health Strategy 2026 – Whiria te Ora on 21 August marks an important milestone for Māori health and for the wider health system. The Strategy sets a clear direction for improving Māori health outcomes over the next five years. It brings previous Māori health strategies and action plans into one delivery-focused framework and was informed by extensive engagement with Māori communities, iwi, health providers and health sector partners. While the publication of the Strategy is an important step, our focus now turns to implementing the Strategy, monitoring process and supporting delivery so that we can improve health outcomes for Māori. You can find out more about the Māori Health Strategy on the Ministry of Health website. |  |
Enabling paramedic prescribers In June, Minister of Health Hon Simeon Brown announced the Government’s decision to allow paramedics to become designated prescribers under the Medicines Act. · See Paramedics to be able to prescribe medicines - beehive.govt.nz Allowing paramedics to prescribe from an approved list of medicines will help patients get better access to treatment. The change is expected to particularly benefit people living in rural communities. Paramedics will not be able to prescribe these medicines immediately. Te Kaunihera Manapou – the Paramedic Council of New Zealand – is undertaking work to develop a new prescribing scope of practice and will work with education providers to determine the most appropriate qualifications for paramedic prescribers. Read Specified medicines list for paramedic prescribers on the Ministry of Health website. |
Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Act The Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Act 2026 came into force in July. The primary Act is now the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Act 2022. The Amendment Act made changes to improve the effectiveness of health service delivery to patients by:
An additional purpose was added to the Act: to ensure that patients get timely access to quality services. To support the focus on delivery for patients, the Act now requires six health targets to be included in the Government Policy Statement on Health (GPS). All health entities, including Health New Zealand, are required to give effect to health targets. Find out more about Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Act on the Ministry of Health website. |
Rare Disorders Implementation Plan The Rare Disorders Strategy Implementation Plan 2026/27 has now been published, marking an important milestone in delivering the Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy 2024-2034. It sets out practical actions to improve coordination, support earlier diagnosis, strengthen access to information, and build better data and planning across the system. I want to acknowledge Rare Disorders New Zealand, Health New Zealand, Pharmac, the Health Quality & Safety Commission and Ministry teams for their work in developing the plan. Progress will be monitored and reported every year, helping ensure this work continues to make a meaningful difference for people and whānau affected by rare disorders. Find out more about the Rare Disorders Implementation Plan on the Ministry of Health website. |
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