The Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group began its work in January 2026, and is expected to report back with recommendations by the middle of 2026.
Read the press release on the Beehive website.
On this page
-
…
Context
While New Zealanders generally have access to a range of aged care services that provide a good standard of care, reviews have highlighted challenges that include:
- the way services are funded is outdated, and does not support providers of aged care to sustain service levels, or to invest and build new services
- there is no cohesive and integrated aged care system that provides the care people need at the right time and in the right place
- access to the right services can be inconsistent and inequitable across different groups of people, and in different parts of the country.
Advisory group members
The members are:
- Hon David Cunliffe (Chair)
- Brien Cree
- Shelley Cunningham
- Suzanne Dvorak
- Dr Richard Lowe
- Murray Penman
- Mike Peters
- Max Robins
- Allan Sargeant
- Helen Watson.
Scope
The expert Group will provide an independent report and a set of recommendations around three areas:
- the funding model needed to support sustainable services, particularly a sustainable supply of aged care beds
- how the costs of providing aged care could be reasonably shared between those receiving care and the Government
- the changes needed to contracting arrangements and regulatory settings for aged care services, to remove red tape, support cost-effective delivery of services, support service innovation, and increase cohesion and integration between aged care services, wider health services, and Disability Support Services.
The Group will be supported by the Ministry of Health, which will provide a secretariat and other support. Its work will be informed by the findings of Health New Zealand’s Aged Care Funding and Service Models Review and the Health Committee’s inquiry into aged care.
Information and evidence informing the Group’s work
The challenges in New Zealand’s aged care system are well known and documented.
To inform its work, the Ministerial Advisory Group is drawing on previous reports and engagement processes, such as:
- the Health New Zealand Review of Aged Care Funding and Service Models
- the Health Committee inquiry into the aged care sector’s current and future capacity to provide support services for people experiencing neurological cognitive disorders.
As part of its process, the Group may also seek information and advice from organisations that represent providers and workforces that support the health of people accessing aged care services.
The Ministry of Health will also provide the Group with information and data to inform its work.
Once the Group has completed its final report, Ministers will consider the recommendations and may make decisions about changes to aged care settings. Any progression of recommendations by Government is expected to involve opportunities for sector engagement.
