The Ministry is made up of directorates and business units, each with its own functions and areas of responsibility.
On this page:
- Evidence Research and Innovation
- Strategy Policy and Legislation
- Māori Health
- Public Health Agency
- Regulatory Services
- System Performance and Monitoring
- Government and Executive Services
- Corporate Services
- Chief Clinical Officers
Evidence Research and Innovation
Deputy Director General – Dean Rutherford
This Directorate is responsible for health research, analytics, horizon scanning and innovation, including building and strengthening the analytics and insights capability, Health research and innovation, scientific leadership and direction, economic leadership and direction advising and influencing work programmes and outputs and championing of digital innovation by working across the sector to conduct strategic scanning and understanding international trends
Strategy Policy and Legislation
Deputy Director General – Maree Roberts
The Strategy Policy and Legislation directorate leads long-term strategy, setting direction and priority areas for investment. It also leads the Ministry’s policy advice across a range of areas including workforce, disability, family & community health and COVID-19.
Māori Health
Deputy Director General – John Whaanga
The Māori Health directorate partners with the Māori Health Authority, Health New Zealand and other directorates within the new Ministry such as the Public Health Agency to develop high quality insights, advice and perspectives from policy development through to operational delivery.
At a Government level, it leads Māori engagement and relationships with Māori stakeholders, has responsibility for Māori Crown relationships including treaty settlement relationships, responsibility for ensuring the Ministry meets all-of-government Māori Crown relationships commitments and along with the Māori Health Agency, responsibility for leading policy and setting the strategic direction for Māori Health; monitors and reports data insights.
Public Health Agency
Deputy Director General – Dr Andrew Old
The Public Health Agency leads public health and population health strategy, policy, regulatory, intelligence, surveillance and monitoring functions. It will strengthen links between science, public health and policy, particularly in relation to surveillance and the role of laboratories through an effective, fit-for-purpose and sustainable Public Health Knowledge and Surveillance System.
Regulatory Services
Deputy Director General – Clare Perry
The Regulatory Services directorate looks at national radiation safety, continuing the valuable role of Medsafe, leading the regulation of therapeutic products in NZ, the promotion of the safe provision of services to the public including conducting ethical reviews and carrying out key regulatory functions, eg, End of Life, and certified regulated health services.
System Performance & Monitoring
Deputy Director General and Deputy Chief Executive – Robyn Shearer
The System Performance and Monitoring arm of the Ministry is the directorate where activity around system planning, funding and performance is monitored. This includes leading policy advice on the mental health & addiction system, setting the strategic direction for the sector, and provision of comprehensive monitoring and insights to improve performance
Government & Executive Services
Deputy Director General – Sarah Turner
The Government and Executive Services directorate will support Ministers and the Ministry’s leadership team by providing quality legal, communications advice and support the wider Ministry in navigating machinery of government. It leads the relationship with and activities regarding Ministers’ offices, leads communications and engagement for the Ministry and manages board appointments across the sector
Corporate Services
Deputy Director General – Celia Wellington
The Corporate Services directorate oversees all our important enabling corporate functions.
Chief Clinical Officers
The Office of the Chief Clinical Officers provides a strategic clinical lens to ensure services are better planned and delivered for the benefit of New Zealanders. This includes identifying and promoting innovations at a national level, providing oversight and direction on clinical and professional issues across the sector, and supporting the response to current and future workforce demand.
- Chief Nursing Officer – Lorraine Hetaraka
- Chief Medical Officer – Robyn Carey
- Chief Allied Health Professions Officer – Martin Chadwick