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14 May 2026Simeon Brown

Pharmac proposes improving access to type 2 diabetes medicines

Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown welcome Pharmac’s proposal to change funding criteria for three type 2 diabetes medicines based on clinical

13 May 2026Matt Doocey

Business Mental Health Toolkit launched

A new mental health toolkit launched today by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey will support businesses to improve productivity in the workplace through better mental health.

7 May 2026Simeon Brown

Senior doctors vote to accept settlement

Health Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for members of Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), who represent Senior Medical

4 May 2026Simeon Brown

Building the future GP workforce with overseas-trained doctors

Strong progress is being made to bring more overseas-trained doctors already living in New Zealand into the primary care workforce, with half the planned placements now

29 Apr 2026Simeon Brown · Mark Mitchell

Cracking down on nitrous oxide misuse

The Government is taking further steps to tighten controls on nitrous oxide to reduce harm and curb its illegitimate use, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Police

15 Apr 2026Simeon Brown

Expanded role for community pharmacists

From June, it will be easier and more affordable for parents to get treatment for their children for a range of common health conditions, with expanded

13 Apr 2026Simeon Brown

Nationwide expansion of cancer treatment services

Thousands more New Zealanders will be able to access life-saving cancer treatment closer to home, with a nationwide expansion of community infusion services underway, Health Minister

8 Apr 2026Matt Doocey

New support delivers faster access to eating disorder care

More New Zealanders and their families will have faster access to support for eating disorders with the rollout of peer support workers in eating disorder services

2 Apr 2026Simeon Brown

Increased mileage rates for home and community support workers

Home and community support workers will receive a temporary 30 per cent increase to their mileage rates to help offset rising fuel costs, Health Minister Simeon

27 Mar 2026Simeon Brown

Land acquisition underway for future South Auckland hospital

The next step toward delivering a new hospital for South Auckland is underway, with Health New Zealand seeking proposals from landowners in Drury for a future

25 Mar 2026Simeon Brown

National diabetes action plan launched

The National Diabetes Roadmap has today been launched to improve care, strengthen prevention, and support better health outcomes for the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders

25 Mar 2026Matt Doocey

Mental health workforce target exceeded

The frontline mental health and addiction workforce has grown, with the latest target data showing the Government’s workforce target has been exceeded, giving more New Zealanders

25 Mar 2026Simeon Brown

Thousands more Kiwis now eligible for bowel screening

Thousands more New Zealanders are now able to access bowel screening earlier, with the starting age being lowered from 60 to 58 across the central and

24 Mar 2026Simeon Brown

Health targets delivering for New Zealanders

Clear improvements are being delivered across all five Government health targets, with the quarterly results for October to December 2025 showing year‑on‑year gains and more Kiwis

19 Mar 2026Todd McClay · Matt Doocey

Rural Wellbeing Fund backs 18 initiatives

The Government is backing rural New Zealand by supporting 18 community-based initiatives through its Rural Wellbeing Fund, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Mental Health Minister Matt

17 Mar 2026Simeon Brown

Moving health decisions closer to home

From 1 July, decision-making within Health New Zealand will shift closer to patients, communities, and hospitals, ensuring decisions are made in the right place at the

17 Mar 2026Simeon Brown

More staff, extra beds as hospitals prepare for winter

Health New Zealand will invest an additional $25 million to boost hospital capacity, increase staffing, and prepare the health system for higher demand over the busy

12 Mar 2026Simeon Brown

Common sense proposal will benefit patients and save money

The Government will shift responsibility for funding ambulance medicines from Health New Zealand (HNZ) and ACC to Pharmac because it will improve medicine procurement processes, and