About Crown health entities
As steward of New Zealand’s health system, the Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora works in partnership with a range of Crown health entities.
Crown health entities are responsible to the Minister of Health. Their functions may include:
- policy or monitoring
- funding and commissioning
- delivering services.
The Ministry is responsible for monitoring the performance of Crown health entities on behalf of the Minister of Health. We also help the Minister appoint members to the boards of health entities.
The roles of New Zealand’s Crown health entities are defined in the Crown Entities Act 2004.
Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora
Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora is responsible for planning and commissioning hospital, primary and community health services.
Health New Zealand:
- designs, arranges and delivers health services to achieve pae ora (healthy futures) for all New Zealanders
- encourages community participation in service improvement and planning
- encourages health promotion and early intervention to improve outcomes for all New Zealanders.
Health New Zealand was established under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.
Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora
Health and Disability Commissioner – Te Toihau Hauora, Hauātanga
The Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) is responsible for promoting and protecting consumer rights. These are set out in the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights.
HDC was established by the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994.
Health and Disability Commissioner
Health Research Council of New Zealand – Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa
The Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) allocates the government’s investment in health research.
Its role includes:
- advising the Minister of Health on national health research policy
- administering funds
- encouraging and initiating health research
- disseminating the findings of health research.
The HRC was established under the Health Research Council Act 1990.
Health Research Council of New Zealand
New Zealand Blood and Organ Service – Te Ratonga Tata o Aotearoa
The New Zealand Blood and Organ Service (also known as the New Zealand Blood Service or NZBOS) is responsible for:
- ensuring the supply of safe blood products
- developing an integrated national blood transfusion process.
NZBOS also works with health professionals to ensure that processes for organ donation are nationally consistent and meet medical, ethical and legal standards.
NZBOS was established under the Organ Donors and Related Matters Act 2019.
New Zealand Blood and Organ Service
Pharmac – Te Pātaka Whaioranga
Pharmac is the government agency that makes decisions about which medicines and related products are funded in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Pharmac was established under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. It now functions under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission – Te Hiringa Mahara
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission provides independent oversight of mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand. This is to contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all New Zealanders.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission was established under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Act 2020.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
Health Quality & Safety Commission – Te Tāhū Hauora
The Health Quality & Safety Commission works with public and private providers across the health and disability sector to improve service safety and quality.
The Health Quality & Safety Commission was established under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and now functions under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.
