Five targets for the health system
In March 2024 the Government announced health targets for cancer treatment, childhood immunisation, emergency departments and wait times for first specialist assessments and elective treatment.
These targets, which came into effect on 1 July, will support the delivery of better health outcomes for New Zealanders and improve the performance of our health services throughout the country. Two targets (shorter stays in emergency departments and shorter wait times for first specialist appointments) are in the Government targets.
The health targets are reflected in the Government Policy Statement on Health 2024-2027, which sets the direction of travel for the health system.
The Government plans to publish results quarterly, with the first reporting to cover activities up till 30 June 2024.
Health New Zealand will publish results against health targets every quarter, with the first results to be reported in December for the July-September period (quarter one of 2024/25).
Monitoring of health targets will sit within a wider suite of monitoring on health system performance by the Ministry.
Health New Zealand has published high-level implementation plans, which set out the activities and milestones to make progress towards achieving the targets by 2030.
The health targets replace the Health System Indicators.
