Most New Zealanders access the health system through a primary health care provider in their community, such as a general practitioner, nurse practitioner, registered nurse or other health professional.
Primary care is critical for providing better health outcomes for New Zealanders and for achieving progress against the Government’s targets for the health system.
However, primary care has been under pressure, and too many New Zealanders have struggled to access the care they need in their communities, when they need it.
Better primary care supports the Government’s focus on prevention of illness and early intervention when people do get sick. This focus is outlined in the Government Policy Statement on Health 2024–27.
Primary care announcements
In March 2025, the Government announced a package of eight initiatives to support timely access to quality primary health care for all New Zealanders. These will help New Zealanders to get the care they need, when they need it.
The initiatives include digital access to 24/7 primary care; initiatives to increase the GP and primary care nursing workforce; and a performance-based funding boost for general practice.
You can read factsheets on these initiatives at Primary care announcements.
Read press releases about these initiatives from Minister of Health Hon Simeon Brown on the Beehive website:
- Healthcare boost means seeing a GP, faster
- More locally trained doctors in primary care
- Greater role for nurses in primary care
These changes will be introduced in the coming months. Both the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand will update their websites as more information becomes available.
The Ministry of Health continues to lead a strategic work programme on the way primary and community health care services are organised, funded and provided in the future.
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