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About the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act
The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 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 pae ora (healthy futures) for all New Zealanders.
The Ministry of Health is responsible for administering the Act.
Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022
Health system principles
The Act establishes a set of health system principles to provide common expectations across the health system.
The principles require the health system to:
- be equitable
- engage with Māori, population groups, and others to reflect their needs and aspirations
- provide opportunities for Māori to exercise decision-making authority
- provide choice of quality services to Māori and other population groups
- protect and promote people’s health and wellbeing.
Changes to the health system resulting from the Act
The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 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 replaces 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 established under the Act to ensure that health planning and service delivery responded to the aspirations and needs of Māori.
The Māori Health Authority was disestablished on 30 June 2024. Its functions and staff have 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 Act to provide national leadership on public health.
Iwi–Māori Partnership Boards
Iwi–Māori Partnership Boards have an important role under the Act. They represent local Māori perspectives on:
- Māori health care needs and aspirations
- how the health system is performing
- how health services are designed and delivered.
Hauora Māori Advisory Committee
The Hauora Māori Advisory Committee strengthens the Te Tiriti-based relationship between the Crown and Māori in the health system. It ensures the voices of Māori are heard at all levels of decision-making in health.
Hauora Māori Advisory Committee
Important health documents required by the Act
Pae Ora Strategies
The Act requires the Ministry of Health to develop 6 health strategies to set the direction for a system that is equitable, accessible, cohesive and people-centred.
The 6 Pae Ora 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
Government Policy Statement
The Act requires the Minister of Health to issue a Government Policy Statement at least every 3 years. The statement sets the government’s priorities and expectations for the health system.
Government Policy Statement on Health 2024–2027
New Zealand Health Plan
The Act requires a costed plan for the delivery of publicly funded health services. Health New Zealand is leading the development of the New Zealand Health Plan for 2024 to 2027.
New Zealand Health Charter
The New Zealand Health Charter – Te Mauri o Rongo is a requirement of the Act. It sets clear expectations about how health workers must be treated while at work.
