February 02, 2023
Equity push expected from new Health Minister
The Health Ministry’s deputy director general Māori says changes to the sector mean new Health Minister Ayesha Verral will be able to focus on making sure the ministry is serving people well.
Dr Verrall takes over from Andrew Little, who moved on from the position in the cabinet reshuffle after steering through the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.
John Whaanga says those changes include measures to improve both the ministry’s performance in terms of the Treaty of Waitangi and Maori health equity.
“Minister Verrall is someone who is committed to that direction and certainly in the responsibilities she has had for health in the past and has a very keen interest in issues such as equity and making sure people are getting what they need out of the system so I think there’s a real refocusing in serving people well in what have been trying times,” he says.