NZ health system

Key health sector organisations and people

This section describes key organisations and people in New Zealand’s health and disability system.

Minister of Health

The Minister of Health has overall responsibility for the health and disability system. The Minister’s functions, duties, responsibilities and powers are provided for in the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and other legislation.

  • Minister of Health - Hon Chris Hipkins

Associate Ministers

  • Jenny Salesa
  • Julie Anne Genter

Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health is the government’s principal advisor on health and disability policy. For more information about our responsibilities and priorities, go to About us.

In this section

  • District health boards

    District health boards (DHBs) are responsible for providing or funding the provision of most health services in their district. Read more

  • Crown entities and agencies

    Crown entities like the Health Quality and Safety Commission are part of New Zealand’s state sector and are responsible to the Minister of Health. Read more

  • Capital Investment Committee

    The Capital Investment Committee (CIC) is a section 11 committee which provides advice to the Ministers of Health and Finance on the prioritisation and allocation of funding for capital investment and health infrastructure. Read more

  • Mental Health Review Tribunal

    The Mental Health Review Tribunal is an independent body appointed by the Minister of Health under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992. Read more

  • National Ambulance Sector Office (NASO)

    The National Ambulance Sector Office (NASO) is a joint office between ACC and the Ministry of Health Read more

  • Non-governmental organisations

    How the Ministry of Health works with non-governmental organisations who provide health and disability services. Read more

  • Public health units

    Public health units deliver regional public health services. They focus on environmental health, communicable disease control, tobacco control and health promotion. Read more

  • Health alliances

    Health alliances are nine networks of primary health care providers and district health boards that are implementing the Government’s ‘Better, Sooner, More Convenient’ care initiatives. Read more

  • Primary health organisations

    Primary health organisations (PHOs) support general practices to provide primary health care services. Read more

  • Professional and regulatory bodies

    Health regulatory authorities are responsible for specific health professions. They describe scopes of practice, issue annual practising certificates and more. Read more

  • Ministerial health committees

    Health committees provide the Minister of Health with independent expert advice and offer a forum for representatives of the sector to have a role in decision-making. Read more

  • Appointments to health statutory bodies

    Appointment of members to statutory authorities including crown entities, district health boards, professional regulatory bodies and ministerial health committees. Read more

Related areas

Related websites

Page last updated: 02 July 2020

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