Minister of Health Hon Dr Shane Reti
Hon Dr Shane Reti is the Minister of Health.
In brief, the Ministry of Health is the governing body of the health system. It oversees the public health and disability services through its allocation of funding to District Health Boards. The Ministry of Health also contracts public health/prevention, such as health promotion services.
The Ministry is also responsible for alcohol and drug use through the guiding document – National Drug Policy 2015-2020. In 2018, the Ministry of Health led an Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction.
Lastly, the Ministry oversees and reviews the National Cancer Action Plan. The current 2019-2029 Plan recommends the implementation of approaches to minimise harm from alcohol, including exploring pricing strategies and other alcohol policies.