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Food environments
The Public Health Advisory Committee’s major topic of focus for 2023 was food environments.
New Zealand’s food environments are having a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders. Unhealthy diet and obesity are major contributors to poor health, inequities and healthy life-years lost in New Zealand.
The Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) explored the New Zealand food system, including food regulation and composition. It also explored Māori and other cultural and societal connections to food.
The committee is tasked with identifying innovative solutions that are fit for purpose in New Zealand.
The committee engaged widely as part of its work, particularly with Māori. It also engaged with communities, academics, experts and industry in both the food and health systems to ensure all voices are reflected in its advice.
The PHAC reported to the Minister of Health in May 2024. Read the Rebalancing our food system report.
The Synergia report and The Workshop briefing paper referred to in the PHAC report are available online:
- Synergia report: Stakeholder reflections on the food environment
- Workshop Briefing Paper: How to talk about rebalancing our food ecosystem to make it work for everyone: a narrative briefing paper.
New Zealand Health Strategies
The Public Health Advisory Committee provided advice on the 6 health strategies led by the Ministry of Health . The overarching New Zealand health strategy is supported by 5 population-specific strategies, including:
- Hauora Māori Strategy
- Pacific Health Strategy
- Health of Disabled People Strategy
- Women’s Health Strategy
- Rural Health Strategy.
The strategies set out health service priorities and system improvements over the next 5 to 10 years. The committee provided independent, expert public health advice to support the development of these strategies.
