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About the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Act 2022
The Act took effect on 1 July 2022.
The Act’s purpose is to:
- protect, promote, and improve the health of all New Zealanders
- achieve equity by reducing health disparities among New Zealand’s population groups, in particular for Māori
- build towards healthy futures (pae ora) for all New Zealanders
- ensure that patients get timely access to quality health services.
The Ministry of Health is responsible for administering the Act.
Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Act 2022
On 9 July 2026, the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Act 2026 was signed into law. Read more about the changes.
Changes to the health system resulting from the Act
The Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Act 2022 created new health entities, Crown entities and committees.
Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora
Health New Zealand is a health entity established under the Act to lead the operation of the health system and design and deliver health services. It replaced district health boards (DHBs) with a single national organisation.
Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora
Māori Health Authority – Te Aka Whai Ora (disestablished)
The Māori Health Authority – Te Aka Whai Ora was initially established under the Act.
It was disestablished on 30 June 2024, and its functions and staff transferred to the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand.
Public Health Agency
The Public Health Agency is a Ministry of Health business unit created under the Health Act 1956 to provide national leadership on public health.
Hauora Māori Advisory Committee
The Hauora Māori Advisory Committee provides advice to the Minister of Health and the board of Health New Zealand on health outcomes for Māori based on their needs and aspirations, and advice on how the health sector is performing in relation to those needs and aspirations.
The board of Health New Zealand is required to take into account any advice it receives from the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee.
Hauora Māori Advisory Committee
Iwi–Māori partnership boards
Iwi–Māori partnership boards have an important role under the Act. They engage with Māori communities about their health needs, aspirations and health outcomes, and communicate the results and insights to the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee.
Health New Zealand is required to support iwi-Māori partnership boards and to provide relevant information to support IMPBs to achieve their purpose.
Important health documents required by the Act
Health Strategies
The Act requires the Ministry of Health to develop 7 health strategies to provide a framework to guide health entities in protecting, promoting and improving people’s health and wellbeing, and to improve health outcomes for population groups.
The 7 Health strategies are:
- New Zealand Health Strategy
- Pae Tū: Hauora Māori Strategy
- Te Mana Ola: The Pacific Health Strategy
- Health of Disabled People Strategy
- Women’s Health Strategy
- Rural Health Strategy
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (under development).
Government Policy Statement
The Act requires the Minister of Health to issue a Government Policy Statement (GPS) at least every 3 years. The statement sets the Government’s priorities and expectations for the health system. It is required to include the health targets that the Government expects the health sector to meet.
Government Policy Statement on Health 2024–2027
New Zealand Health Plan
The Act requires a New Zealand Health Plan, which includes information about how services and activities will be funded, with a statement of Health New Zealand’s anticipated revenue and expenditure. The New Zealand Health Plan gives effect to the Government Policy Statement on Health and is required to include the health targets.
