Five Million Voices

Should the Pae Ora Act be amended to put health targets into law, repeal the health sector principles and charter, and refocus Māori health advisory roles?

The bill amends the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 by inserting a new patient-focused purpose, mandating health targets in legislation, repealing the health sector principles and charter, and altering Health New Zealand's governance and Māori health advisory arrangements.

⚡ Taken under urgency

Parliament advanced this bill under urgency (committee of whole house, third reading) — moving it through faster than usual, with less time than normal for public submissions.

MPs’ arguments for and against the bill

Why support it
  • Supporters argued that mandating health targets in law provides clarity and accountability, requiring all health entities to focus on measurable results like shorter emergency department waits and faster access to surgery and cancer treatment.
  • Supporters said repealing the health sector principles and charter removes diffuse decision-making criteria and refocuses the system on patients rather than on bureaucracy.
  • Supporters argued the bill strengthens governance of Health New Zealand, including infrastructure oversight and the ability to work with private providers to reduce waiting times.
Why oppose it
  • Opponents argued the bill changes nothing meaningful because the Government can already set targets through its policy statement, calling the legislation ideological and political rather than practical.
  • Opponents said it reduces the decision-making role of iwi-Māori partnership boards and removes local voice for both Māori and patients, weakening accountability at the community level.
  • Opponents argued the changes were advanced quickly without public engagement or evidence and with limited consultation across health agencies.

These are claims MPs made in Parliament’s debate — not verified facts.

Full bill summary & link to official bill page

The Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill amends the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, the law that sets up New Zealand's public health system. The bill rewrites Health New Zealand's purpose, objectives and functions and makes delivering health infrastructure, such as hospitals and facilities, a core function, supported by a dedicated infrastructure committee. It puts health targets, for example faster care, shorter waits and higher immunisation rates, into law, and strengthens governance, financial oversight, strategic planning and monitoring while simplifying board and appointment rules to focus on skills and delivery capability. It refocuses iwi-Māori Partnership Boards on community engagement rather than helping design services, and adjusts the role of the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee. It also removes perceived red tape by repealing the Health Charter and health sector principles and dropping some New Zealand Health Plan audit requirements.

This is a government bill from the Minister of Health. The main argument in favour is that it puts patients at the centre, embeds clear accountability for results, and fixes health infrastructure delivery that the government describes as a serious past failing. The main argument against, raised by Māori health advocates and community organisations, is that narrowing the role of iwi-Māori Partnership Boards and repealing the sector principles weakens Māori influence and the equity focus in a system that is meant to close longstanding health gaps.

See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.

Oppose (No) Support (Yes)

Healthy Futures (Pae Ora) Amendment Bill · Third Reading, 30 Jun 2026
Parliament voted 67–55 — it passed. (Provisional — from Hansard’s uncorrected transcript.)