Pae Ora | Healthy Futures for all New Zealanders

Setting the direction for our new health system

We should all feel we can get to and experience quality health services, no matter who or where we are. It is not enough to deliver good outcomes for some groups of people while others are left behind. Our health system must focus on fairness and improved health and wellbeing for all of us. 

The Pae Ora | Healthy Futures Strategies set the direction for a system that is equitable, accessible, cohesive and people-centred.

The six strategies are: 

• The New Zealand Health Strategy
• Pae Tū: Hauora Māori Strategy
• Te Mana Ola: The Pacific Health Strategy
• The Health of Disabled People Strategy
• The Rural Health Strategy
• The Women’s Health Strategy

These strategies set a long-term vision that cover the many factors that influence people’s health and wellbeing, including the role of health services. They show a future where people can live well and achieve good health, where families are empowered to be healthy, and where our communities and environments support good health. 

The New Zealand Health Strategy, the Health of Disabled People Strategy and the Hauora Māori Strategy build on their earlier iterations.

The Pacific, Women’s and Rural Health Strategies are new – New Zealand has not had specific health strategies in these areas before. However previous plans have been in place before.

Together, the Pae Ora strategies will set the direction across the health system and will inform decision-making and priority setting by Government and the health system. 

While the purpose of the strategies is to provide change, they won’t commit us to the particular actions needed to get there. This will be the role of the next Government Policy Statement, and Te Pae Tata, the New Zealand Health Plan.

Alternative formats are being developed and will be available in the coming weeks.