The Ministry of Health is at the centre of some of the Government’s most consequential decisions - advising the Government where billions in Vote Health funding should go. New Zealand's Budget gets split into various 'votes', and Vote Health - the health sector's share of the Government's funding pool - is significant. It was a period of significant upheaval in health - Margie Apa had just resigned as the chief executive of Health NZ, and Simeon Brown had recently replaced Shane Reti as Health Minister. Sonerson said it was important she was clear about what the role of the Ministry is and its relationship with Health NZ. "And we need to be acting on behalf of the Minister and the Government of the day on what they want Health NZ to achieve.
Source: Stuff February 27, 2026 03:09 UTC