About us Mō mātou

About the Ministry of Health and the New Zealand health system. 

Regulation & legislation Ngā here me ngā ture

Health providers and products we regulate, and laws we administer.

Strategies & initiatives He rautaki, he tūmahi hou

How we’re working to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders.

Māori health Hauora Māori

Increasing access to health services, achieving equity and improving outcomes for Māori.

Statistics & research He tatauranga, he rangahau

Data and insights from our health surveys, research and monitoring.

Healthy Eating Guidelines for New Zealand Babies and Toddlers (0–2 years old) (2021)

The Healthy Eating Guidelines for New Zealand Babies and Toddlers (0–2 years old) provide the Ministry’s evidence base for advice about the food and nutrition needs of babies and toddlers.

National Breastfeeding Strategy for New Zealand Aotearoa | Rautaki Whakamana Whāngote (2020)

The National Breastfeeding Strategy for New Zealand Aotearoa was developed with the intention and commitment to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in New Zealand.

Key Stakeholder Consultation to Complete the Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes in New Zealand (2012)

In 2012, Quigley and Watts Limited was contracted by the Ministry of Health to consult with key stakeholders on the effectiveness of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand. The purpose of the stakeholder consultation was to complete an evaluation of the International Code in New Zealand that began in 2011 with the report from the Research Trust of Victoria University.

Quigley and Watts facilitated meetings with key stakeholders, and prepared a final report on the stakeholder consultation. The report can be accessed below:

A summary of actions the Ministry intends to take as a result of the evaluation can be found on the Background to the breast-milk substitutes code webpage.

Effectiveness, Implementation and Monitoring of the International Code of Breast-Milk Substitutes in New Zealand (2011)

In 2010, the Research Trust from Victoria University of Wellington was the independent third party contracted by the Ministry of Health (RFP 29308) to undertake an Information Gathering Exercise on Implementing and Monitoring the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand: The Code in New Zealand (Ministry of Health, 2007).

The exercise included a literature review, a qualitative interview component, and a final report:

Government Response to Report of the Health Committee on Parliamentary Petition 2005/127 of Lisa Ross and 15 others (2009)

The Government Response to Report of the Health Committee on Parliamentary Petition 2005/127 of Lisa Ross and 15 others, presented to the House of Representatives in accordance with Standing Order 248 is available to download from the New Zealand Parliament website.

Implementing and Monitoring the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand (2007)

Implementing and Monitoring the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand is the Ministry’s single, standard reference document for the implementation and monitoring of the International Code of Marketing Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand.

It includes the Code of Practice for Health Workers in New Zealand and the Infant Nutrition Council Code of Practice for the Marketing of Infant Formula.

Review of the New Zealand Interpretation of the World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (2004)

The Review of the New Zealand Interpretation of the World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (in the Ministry’s Library Catalogue) covers eleven action points. These will provide a framework for refining and strengthening New Zealand’s interpretation of the World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, have been agreed by the Ministry of Health.

© Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora