23 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1273 views
Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson announced the establishment of New Zealand's first Rural Training Hub in South Taranaki, aiming to strengthen rural healthcare by linking local services, universities, and training providers. The hub will facilitate the education and training of healthcare workers in rural areas, ensuring timely access to care for all New Zealanders. Four hubs will be established across Health NZ regions, with the South Taranaki Hub involving community input to coordinate placements, training pathways, and pastoral support for healthcare professionals.
21 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1237 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced a $20 million boost for emergency departments nationwide to increase frontline staffing over the next nine months, aiming to reduce wait times and improve patient care. The investment will allow hospitals to recruit more doctors, nurses, and support staff, with a focus on hospitals facing the greatest challenges. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen healthcare services, improve workforce capacity, and enhance patient access to timely and quality care.
21 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1276 views
The Government is investing $100 million to upgrade hospital facilities in New Zealand, focusing on modernizing and expanding clinical spaces to improve healthcare quality and access. The funding, part of Budget 2025, aims to address neglected infrastructure and ensure timely, quality care for all citizens. The program includes local projects nationwide and remediation efforts to strengthen essential hospital infrastructure, creating jobs and supporting frontline staff while enhancing patient care and hospital resilience.
20 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1291 views
Enabling works for the Nelson Hospital Redevelopment are underway, with preparations being made for major construction, according to Health Minister Simeon Brown. The project, part of a $1 billion investment in hospital infrastructure, aims to provide modern facilities to meet the needs of a growing population. The redevelopment will include increasing points of care by 44, adding a new inpatient building with 128 beds, and expanding the Emergency Department to support urgent care services.
19 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1191 views
Twenty percent of councils have had their water services delivery plans approved, benefiting over 2.5 million New Zealanders with financially sustainable approaches for the next decade under the Local Water Done Well initiative. The collaborative effort in the Waikato Water Done Well plan covers multiple districts and aims to achieve efficiencies for over 170,000 people. By utilizing shared services and lower-cost finance, councils can manage water plan costs effectively, easing financial burdens on communities and ensuring prudent investments in water infrastructure.
18 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1229 views
The ASMS union's decision to continue strike action will impact over 13,000 patients despite an updated offer from Health New Zealand costing over $160 million for 5,500 senior doctors. Health New Zealand estimates that the strike will delay care for 13,000 patients, affecting elective procedures, specialist assessments, follow-up appointments, and outpatient procedures. The union's refusal of binding arbitration is criticized for prioritizing politics over patient care, with senior doctors being well-compensated and receiving generous benefits.
16 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1385 views
The refurbishment of Christchurch Hospital's Ambulatory Care Hub is complete, as announced by Health Minister Simeon Brown, marking a significant advancement in outpatient care in Canterbury. The hub, costing $4.7 million, consolidates six key outpatient services into one location, providing a coordinated and patient-friendly environment for services like medical and oncology day units, respiratory physiology, and neurophysiology. The integrated hub aims to streamline patient experiences, improve care efficiency, and support faster cancer treatment, demonstrating a commitment to patient-focused health infrastructure by ensuring accessible outpatient care for New Zealanders.
13 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1388 views
Whanganui Hospital's dental unit has been modernized and upgraded to provide a brighter, more accessible space for patients, with improvements including an enlarged waiting room and dedicated areas for IV sedation. The refurbishment aimed to enhance patient flow, safety, and accessibility, with improved wheelchair access and a new recovery space for sedation patients. The upgraded unit now features modernized dental rooms with new equipment to enable efficient and safe care delivery, reflecting the government's commitment to providing fit-for-purpose health facilities that meet community needs.
12 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1177 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown announces changes to modernize health workforce regulation to improve patient access to care by reducing bureaucratic red tape and recognizing overseas qualifications more quickly. The changes aim to streamline regulation, increase accountability, and align New Zealand with Australia to speed up access to care and support new healthcare delivery models while maintaining patient safety. Patients will have a voice in ensuring regulators work towards improving access to care, and the changes will help attract, train, and retain the healthcare workforce needed to deliver timely, quality care.
09 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1513 views
The Government's new 24/7 digital health service, launched in July, has provided over 21,000 consultations to 19,331 people across New Zealand. It is most commonly used when timely GP appointments are unavailable and has successfully treated 83.5% of patients without requiring an in-person GP follow-up. The service has made healthcare more accessible, especially for working-age adults and parents, reaching people in all communities and making a significant impact on daily lives by providing timely and quality care.
04 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1255 views
Health Minister Simeon Brown has urged Health New Zealand and ASMS to swiftly engage in binding arbitration to settle their dispute, which stems from an expired collective agreement despite previous efforts like mediation and bargaining. The ongoing strike actions by ASMS have disrupted care for numerous patients, with a potential future strike threatening more disruptions. The Government emphasizes the importance of providing timely and quality healthcare to all New Zealanders, and both parties must confirm their acceptance of arbitration by Friday 4:00 PM.
03 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1302 views
Improvements to the disability support system will provide disabled individuals, families, and carers with more choice and control over flexible funding starting early next year. The changes aim to address feedback for greater autonomy in decision-making and to create a more transparent and sustainable system. These adjustments, informed by extensive community consultations, will standardize assessment processes, develop personalized support plans through NASCs, and offer more clarity and certainty to users of flexible funding.
02 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1416 views
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) union has decided to strike, leading to delays in healthcare services for thousands of New Zealanders, including cancellations of surgeries and treatments, delays in specialist assessments, and critical follow-up appointments. The strike is seen as a political move by the union, impacting patients already in pain and waiting for treatment, with concerns raised about transparency in the decision-making process. Despite the government's investments in nursing workforce salaries and benefits, efforts are being made to reduce wait times and prioritize patient care, urging the NZNO union to return to negotiations and prioritize patients over politics.
01 Sep 2025
1 year ago
1446 views
Watercare plans to invest $500 million in upgrading Auckland's aging water infrastructure over the next 18 months to improve water services and create job opportunities. The Government collaborated with Auckland Council to develop the Watercare Charter, aiming to make water services more affordable for Aucklanders, saving households nearly $900 million over four years. The increased investment in infrastructure will be beneficial for Auckland's economy, with a focus on upgrading treatment plants and renewing pipes and assets to ensure improved service quality and affordability.
27 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1370 views
The Government's Local Water Done Well legislation aims to provide safe, reliable, and financially sustainable water services to local communities across the country. The legislation focuses on ensuring financial sustainability, oversight, and accountability in water service delivery, with the Commerce Commission overseeing economic regulation to ensure fair pricing and quality infrastructure. Councils are encouraged to submit water services delivery plans that meet the requirements and provide flexibility to make arrangements best-suited for their communities, ultimately benefiting Kiwis with improved water services.