Five targets for the health system
In March 2024 the Government announced health targets for: faster access to cancer treatment, improved childhood immunisation rates, shorter stays in emergency departments, and shorter wait times for first specialist assessments and elective treatment. See below for details about the 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.
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.
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.
Health target results
Health New Zealand will publish results against health targets every quarter.
The first results, covering the July-September period (quarter one of 2024/25) were published on 12 December 2024 and can be found on Health New Zealand’s website.
Monitoring of health targets will sit within a wider suite of monitoring on health system performance by the Ministry.
See the latest Health Target results
Government targets
Two health targets (shorter stays in emergency departments and shorter wait times for elective treatment) are in the Government targets.
The Government will publish results for the Government targets quarterly. The first reporting, covering activities up till 30 June 2024, can be found on the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website.
