Hon David Cunliffe
Minister of Health
11 March 2008 Media Statement
Broad Health Delegations launched
Embargoed until 4.30pm
Health Minister David Cunliffe today launched extensive delegations to a strong team of Associate Health Ministers
giving them a wide scope for action.
The five Associate Ministers, the Hon Jim Anderton, Hon Steve Chadwick, Hon Damien O’Connor, Hon Mita Ririnui and Hon
Peter Dunne represent a diverse range of constituencies and portfolio areas.
“My aim is to have a co-ordinated health service where Associate Ministers play a vital role in helping plan and deliver
important decisions in this essential portfolio.”
Mr Cunliffe said the Associate Ministers would be responsible for policy areas ranging from men’s health, suicide
prevention, Healthy Eating - Healthy Action, cardiovascular health, maternity, Maori health and problem gambling.
“Fruit in schools, Healthy Eating Healthy Action, tobacco control, drug policy, sexual health are all policies that
promote good health, rather than simply sitting back and waiting for someone to become ill before acting.”
The Associate Ministers will also play a primary relationship role with liaison with a number of District Health Boards.
Mr Cunliffe said the health portfolio was one that every New Zealander came into contact with it was therefore important
to have policies that worked together to provide first class services but that also enabled kiwi’s to maintain health.
Mr Cunliffe said since coming to office in 1999 the Labour-led Government had made a huge investment in health.
“By reducing the barriers to people accessing primary care we are encouraging New Zealander’s to use health services to
maintain their well being.
“The large and active Ministerial team and the broad delegations that empower them will allow the public to benefit from
a higher degree of ministerial involvement this crucial portfolio.”
ENDS
Associate Ministers – Portfolio areas
Hon Jim Anderton
- All matters relating to leading and co-ordination of the implementation of the New Zealand Youth Suicide Prevention
Strategy.
- Chairing the Ministerial Committee on Suicide Prevention.
- All matters related to Part 1 and Part 2 of the National Drug Policy and New Zealand’s representative on the
Australian Ministerial Council on Drug strategy.
Liaison with the following DHB
- Canterbury District Health Board
Hon Peter Dunne (United Future)
- Involvement of a long-term medicine strategy relating to quality pharmaceutical usage in the health sector, including
the role PHARMAC should play in implementing the strategy.
Hon Damien O’Connor _-
- Rural Health
- Men’s health issues
- Tobacco and alcohol
- Problem gambling
Implementation of policies for
- The Healthy Eating – Healthy Action Strategy
- Diabetes and cardiovascular health
- The cancer strategy and action plan
- Preventative environmental health
Liason with the following DHBs
- West Coast
- Otago
- Nelson/ Marlborough
- Southland
- South Canterbury
Hon Steve Chadwick
- Maternity
- Child and Youth Health
- Sexual Health
- Oral Health
- Action on family violence issues.
Implementation of polices for
- Communicable diseases
- Immunisations policies.
Liaison with the Following DHBs
- Lakes
- Waikato
- Tairawhiti
Hon Mita Ririnui
- Implementation of the relation to the Maori Health Strategy He Korowai Oranga.
- New Zealand Blood Service and Organ Donation issues.
Liaison with the following DHBs
- Northland,
- Taranaki,
- Wairarapa
- Hutt Valley
- Midcentral
- Whanganui
- Bay of Plenty
ENDS