Role of the PHAC
The Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC) is an independent expert advisory committee established under section 93 of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. The PHAC was created as part of New Zealand’s health system reforms in 2022.
The PHAC will provide public-facing and evidence-based public health advice to Ministers, the Public Health Agency, Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) and Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority). This advice will reflect the perspectives of Māori and the wider New Zealand community and consider the determinants of health.
The PHAC is expected to engage with communities and across the health sector to tackle existing and future public health priorities and risks. It will have a focus on innovative and practical solutions, finding new ways of doing things to address the persistent inequities in health outcomes in Aotearoa.
Improving Health Equity
The PHAC will be expected to prioritise Te Tiriti o Waitangi led and equity-based approaches, including considering the factors underlying the health of people and communities.
It will use evidence-based approaches and their understanding of the needs of those most affected by poor health outcomes to provide advice to ministers and the wider health system. It will provide expertise informed by Māori and Pasifika communities, tikanga and kawa, and diverse cultural values.
Position statement
The PHAC have published a position statement on equity, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Māori health.
This statement is intended to provide a foundation for PHAC’s mahi and a resource for others in the health system and beyond to drawn on when developing policies that impact on the health and wellbeing of all of us.
Equal access to the determinants of good health is a fundamental human right, supported by the United Nations Human Rights Framework and protected under international law. These mean all New Zealanders should have access to same level of resources needed to support a healthy life.
- PHAC Position statement on Equity, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Māori Health (PDF, 224 KB)
- PHAC Position statement on Equity, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Māori Health (Word, 362 KB)