Decision-Making: The Public Health Commission (PHC) is responsible for improving and protecting public
health. The PHC was recently merged with the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health, the four regional health
authorities who are purchasers of health and disability support services, and public health service providers, all
maintain and encourage consultation with key groups and sectors. Territorial authorities are required to consider
their statutory responsibilities under the Health Act 1956 to improve, promote and protect public health in their
districts. Functions with public health implications include the provision of sanitary works such as waterworks and
the collection and safe disposal of sewage; and other areas such as liquor licensing; food hygiene; building
legislation compliance; dangerous goods; civil defense; and bylaws for public health. Regional council functions
that also influence public health include the management of the adverse effects of discharges of contaminants into
the environment, and regional transport policies encompassing access, safety, energy, and environmental issues.
Some regional public health service providers (i.e. functions relating to public health medicine and regulation,
health protection, health promotion and health education, public health nurses etc.) participate in Local Agenda 21
programmes operated by local government. Collaborative working relationships are encouraged to improve,
promote and protect public health at the national and local levels, for example between central government
agencies, public health service providers, local government and different sectors, such as environment, education
and transport.
Programmes and Projects: The incidence of HIV/AIDS in New Zealand is comparatively low, 9.8 per 100,000.
Strategies to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS include the promotion of safe sex, education programmes targeted at
high risk groups, and a needle and syringe exchange programme for intravenous drug users. These programmes are
wholly or partly funded by the Government through the Ministry of Health, and implemented by Government
agencies and non-government organizations such as the NZ AIDS Foundation and the New Zealand Family
Planning Association. Two nationally-coordinated programmes for Maori include a sudden infant death syndrome
prevention programme and a smoke free programme. Significant changes in road safety policy have been recently
implemented to reduce the road death toll. A large education programme is currently underway on drink-driving
and speeding, and work is being done on penalties for offences. Other changes under consideration include revised
speed limits and more stringent vehicle safety standards.
Status: The PHC published a report on the health status of the New Zealand population in December 1993. The
Report noted that despite the "high standard of health" that the country enjoys, "infant mortality has improved only
slowly over the last few decades, although more recently, New Zealand saw a dramatic drop in sudden infant death
syndrome of 33 percent among Maori and 53 percent among non-Maori between 1989 and 1992." The report
demonstrated that New Zealand has high rates of injury and death from road traffic crashes, poisonings and
accidents in the home. The incidence of heart disease, melanoma, and cancers of the large bowel and lung is also
high. Recent statistics show that New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma-related deaths in the world. It
also has one of the highest levels of youth suicide in the world, particularly among young males (in the 15-24 year
age group). The Ministry of Youth Affairs, with support from the Ministry of Health and TPK, is currently
developing a National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy The health status of Maori and other Polynesians, for a
variety of reasons, is poorer than that of non-Maori and Polynesians.
Community services and high user health cards continue to be the main means in the health sector for ensuring
access to health services. For example, for holders of these cards there are no charges for secondary and tertiary
medical services. There are also limits in charging for items and consumables, although a range of subsidies are
provided for assistance. There are no charges for hospital inpatient services and many day patient and outpatient
services.
Capacity-Building, Education, Training and Awareness-Raising: See under “Programmes and Projects”.
Information: See under “Status ”.
health. The PHC was recently merged with the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health, the four regional health
authorities who are purchasers of health and disability support services, and public health service providers, all
maintain and encourage consultation with key groups and sectors. Territorial authorities are required to consider
their statutory responsibilities under the Health Act 1956 to improve, promote and protect public health in their
districts. Functions with public health implications include the provision of sanitary works such as waterworks and
the collection and safe disposal of sewage; and other areas such as liquor licensing; food hygiene; building
legislation compliance; dangerous goods; civil defense; and bylaws for public health. Regional council functions
that also influence public health include the management of the adverse effects of discharges of contaminants into
the environment, and regional transport policies encompassing access, safety, energy, and environmental issues.
Some regional public health service providers (i.e. functions relating to public health medicine and regulation,
health protection, health promotion and health education, public health nurses etc.) participate in Local Agenda 21
programmes operated by local government. Collaborative working relationships are encouraged to improve,
promote and protect public health at the national and local levels, for example between central government
agencies, public health service providers, local government and different sectors, such as environment, education
and transport.
Programmes and Projects: The incidence of HIV/AIDS in New Zealand is comparatively low, 9.8 per 100,000.
Strategies to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS include the promotion of safe sex, education programmes targeted at
high risk groups, and a needle and syringe exchange programme for intravenous drug users. These programmes are
wholly or partly funded by the Government through the Ministry of Health, and implemented by Government
agencies and non-government organizations such as the NZ AIDS Foundation and the New Zealand Family
Planning Association. Two nationally-coordinated programmes for Maori include a sudden infant death syndrome
prevention programme and a smoke free programme. Significant changes in road safety policy have been recently
implemented to reduce the road death toll. A large education programme is currently underway on drink-driving
and speeding, and work is being done on penalties for offences. Other changes under consideration include revised
speed limits and more stringent vehicle safety standards.
Status: The PHC published a report on the health status of the New Zealand population in December 1993. The
Report noted that despite the "high standard of health" that the country enjoys, "infant mortality has improved only
slowly over the last few decades, although more recently, New Zealand saw a dramatic drop in sudden infant death
syndrome of 33 percent among Maori and 53 percent among non-Maori between 1989 and 1992." The report
demonstrated that New Zealand has high rates of injury and death from road traffic crashes, poisonings and
accidents in the home. The incidence of heart disease, melanoma, and cancers of the large bowel and lung is also
high. Recent statistics show that New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma-related deaths in the world. It
also has one of the highest levels of youth suicide in the world, particularly among young males (in the 15-24 year
age group). The Ministry of Youth Affairs, with support from the Ministry of Health and TPK, is currently
developing a National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy The health status of Maori and other Polynesians, for a
variety of reasons, is poorer than that of non-Maori and Polynesians.
Community services and high user health cards continue to be the main means in the health sector for ensuring
access to health services. For example, for holders of these cards there are no charges for secondary and tertiary
medical services. There are also limits in charging for items and consumables, although a range of subsidies are
provided for assistance. There are no charges for hospital inpatient services and many day patient and outpatient
services.
Capacity-Building, Education, Training and Awareness-Raising: See under “Programmes and Projects”.
Information: See under “Status ”.
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