The role of Health NZ is to deliver quality, compassionate and affordable healthcare for everyone in New Zealand.
The health system plays a key role in the lives of disabled people by:
– Providing clinical care such as hospital, specialist, primary, and mental health services
– Supporting people with long-term health conditions that may lead to disability
– Delivering rehabilitation and ongoing care
– Funding some disability-related services, particularly for older people and those with health-related needs
Health New Zealand also works with disability services to ensure care is coordinated and accessible.
When a person has both long-term chronic health issues, is disabled and they are under the age of 65 years old, they may be eligible for community support from both Health and Disability via the Needs Assessment Service Co-ordinators (NASC).
The health and disability systems interact in several key ways:
Coordinated Assessment and Planning
Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) organisations work across both systems to assess needs, allocate funding, and connect people to the right mix of health and disability supports.
Shared Funding and Service Frameworks
Health and disability services are planned and delivered using shared frameworks to ensure consistency, accountability, and integration across the system.
Continuity of Care
People may move between services over time. For example:
- A person may receive hospital care (health system) and then ongoing home support (disability system)
- Older people or those with chronic conditions may receive services funded by the health system rather than disability supports
Collective Focus on Outcomes
Both systems work toward healthy futures (pae ora), aiming to:
- Improve overall health and wellbeing
- Reduce barriers to accessing care
- Support independence, dignity, and participation in society
Health New Zealand has 4 regions nationally, known as:
- Northern
- Midland | Te Manawa Taki
- Central | Te Ikaroa
- South Island | Te Waipounamu.
Health services within each region are provided in districts.
Auckland residents are part of the Northern Region and this is made up of 4 Districts:
- Northland
- North Shore, Waitākere, and Rodney (Waitematā)
- Auckland
- Counties Manukau
Districts are often referred to as District Health Boards (DHB’s) and funding is managed by each district.