The Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Act 2026 has now commenced following Royal assent. This amends the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. The primary Act is now the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Act 2022.
The Amendment Act makes changes to health system legislation to support better delivery of health services to patients:
- amending the purpose, objectives, and functions of Health New Zealand
- increasing Health New Zealand’s focus on infrastructure
- strengthening the role of the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee (HMAC) and clarifying the role of iwi-Māori Partnership Boards (IMPBs)
- strengthening governance, strategic direction setting, planning, and monitoring arrangements.
An additional purpose is added to the Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Act: to ensure that patients get timely access to quality services.
To support the focus on delivery for patients, the Act now requires six health targets to be included in the Government Policy Statement on Health (GPS). All health entities will need to give effect to the health targets in the GPS.
Read more about the Amendment Act and the changes at Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Act 2026.
Read the press release from Minister of Health Hon Simeon Brown: Patients now the focus of the health system (on the Beehive website).
