Category: Health

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

The Gambling Act 2003 (the Act) sets out requirements for an ‘integrated problem gambling strategy focused on public health’.

The Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora is responsible for refreshing the strategy every three years. The Crown recovers the cost of developing and implementing the strategy, though a ‘problem gambling levy’ set by regulation at a different rate for each of the four main gambling sectors.

The Ministry is now consulting on our draft Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm for 2025/26 to 2027/28 and the draft levy rates.

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Under section 53 of the Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018, the Director-General of Health has determined the maximum contribution that applies in each region for long-term aged residential care.

The maximum contribution is the maximum weekly amount (inclusive of GST) that a resident assessed as requiring long-term residential care (through a needs assessment and service coordination agency) is required to pay for contracted care services provided to them in the region in which their rest home or continuing care hospital is located.

The maximum contribution is the same for all residents regardless of the type of contracted care services they receive. It is equivalent to the rest home contract price applying to residential care facilities in each region.

The maximum contribution set by this notice applies from 1 September 2024 and replaces the previous maximum contribution notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 1 July 2023, Notice No. 2023-go2824.

Description of Regions

The appendix of this notice sets out the maximum contribution rates. The appendix contains two parts:

• Part 1, which sets out the rates that apply within Territorial Local Authority (TLA) boundaries; and
• Part 2, which sets out the rates that apply within specific Statistical Areas, which are smaller subregions within the TLA boundaries specified in Part 1.

The rate specified for the relevant region in Part 1 applies unless the facility is in a statistical area region set out in Part 2, in which case the rate specified in Part 2 applies. This reflects that a higher maximum contribution rate applies in the rural localities represented by the Statistical Area Regions in Part 2 of the Table.

Statistics New Zealand has a geographic boundary viewer that displays the TLA areas and statistical areas in the appendix on a map of New Zealand. See here for more information: Geographic Boundary Viewer .

Health New Zealand will notify residences of the maximum contribution rate that applies to their facility. The facility will inform residents.

Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) Agencies, Specialised Processing Services, the Ministry of Social Development and residential care providers will also be able to advise the maximum contribution rate for a facility.

Dated at Wellington this day of 16 August 2024.

Dr DIANA SARFATI, Director-General of Health, Te Tumu Whakarae mō te Hauora.

Appendix: Maximum contribution rates

Part 1: Territorial Local Authority Region	Maximum Contribution Weekly $ (GST Inclusive)
Far North District	$1,404.13
Whangarei District	$1,434.51
Kaipara District	$1,444.66
Rodney District	$1,468.60
North Shore City	$1,506.12
Waitakere City	$1,476.23
Auckland City	$1,511.09
Manukau City	$1,496.11
Papakura District	$1,468.60
Franklin District	$1,430.59
Thames-Coromandel District	$1,450.05
Hauraki District	$1,409.45
Waikato District	$1,409.45
Matamata-Piako District	$1,409.45
Hamilton City	$1,444.80
Waipa District	$1,409.45
Otorohanga District	$1,439.76
South Waikato District	$1,399.16
Waitomo District	$1,444.80
Taupo District	$1,434.51
Western Bay of Plenty District	$1,430.59
Tauranga City	$1,451.87
Rotorua District	$1,434.51
Whakatane District	$1,424.36
Kawerau District	$1,444.66
Opotiki District	$1,444.66
Gisborne District	$1,406.93
Wairoa District	$1,469.93
Hastings District	$1,429.40
Napier City	$1,429.40
Central Hawke’s Bay District	$1,429.40
New Plymouth District	$1,429.40
Stratford District	$1,404.13
South Taranaki District	$1,409.45
Ruapehu District	$1,444.80
Wanganui District	$1,409.45
Rangitikei District	$1,444.66
Manawatu District	$1,404.13
Palmerston North City	$1,424.36
Tararua District	$1,404.13
Horowhenua District	$1,404.13
Kapiti Coast District	$1,434.51
Porirua City	$1,434.51
Upper Hutt City	$1,424.36
Lower Hutt City	$1,454.11
Wellington City	$1,476.58
Masterton District	$1,406.93
Carterton District	$1,404.13
South Wairarapa District	$1,404.13
Tasman District	$1,459.57
Nelson City	$1,459.57
Marlborough District	$1,424.36
Kaikoura District	$1,430.59
Buller District	$1,439.76
Grey District	$1,399.16
Westland District	$1,439.76
Hurunui District	$1,450.05
Waimakariri District	$1,430.59
Christchurch City	$1,439.34
Banks Peninsula District	$1,479.94
Selwyn District	$1,471.19
Ashburton District	$1,414.35
Timaru District	$1,409.45
Waimate District	$1,399.16
Waitaki District	$1,399.16
Central Otago District	$1,404.13
Queenstown-Lakes District	$1,454.74
Dunedin City	$1,424.36
Clutha District	$1,399.16
Southland District	$1,439.76
Gore District	$1,399.16
Invercargill City	$1,404.13

Part 2: Statistical Area Region	Statistical Area code 2 2023	Maximum Contribution Weekly $ (GST Inclusive)
Kaeo	101900	$1,444.66
Kaitaia	100800	$1,444.66
Hokianga South	102100	$1,444.66
Kaikohe	103501	$1,444.66
Wellsford	110501	$1,509.13
Cape Rodney	110400	$1,509.13
Glenbrook	162400	$1,471.19
Te Kauwhata East	171101	$1,450.05
Raglan	171601	$1,450.05
Matarawa	186400	$1,439.76
Athenree	190400	$1,471.19
Tokomaru	205000	$1,447.53
Opunake	220700	$1,450.05
Te Roti-Moeroa	221201	$1,450.05
Pātea	222201	$1,450.05
Pahiatua	233600	$1,444.66
Tākaka	300500	$1,500.10
Waitohi (Marlborough District)	306801	$1,464.89
Oxford	313200	$1,471.19
Methven	336901	$1,454.88
Danseys Pass	343300	$1,439.76
Palmerston	344700	$1,439.76
Alexandra North	345500	$1,444.66
Teviot Valley	345800	$1,444.66
Lindis-Nevis Valleys	344800	$1,444.66
Cromwell West	344900	$1,444.66
Wānaka West	346800	$1,495.34
Wānaka Central	347000	$1,495.34
Balclutha South	356500	$1,439.76
Balclutha North	356600	$1,439.76
West Otago	355800	$1,439.76
Milton	356400	$1,439.76

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Summary

The End of Life Choice Act 2019 (the Act) came into force on the 7 November 2021. This established the Assisted Dying – Ngā Ratonga Mate Whakaahuru service in New Zealand Aotearoa.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for the administration of the Act. The Act requires the Registrar (assisted dying) to report to the Minister of Health about the operation of the service each year by the 30 June.

This Registrar (assisted dying) Annual Report covers the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

In addition to information required by the Act, this report summarizes information relating to the Ministry’s regulation and monitoring of the service, service usage, and feedback about the service.

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

New Zealanders are invited to share their views on the End of Life Choice Act 2019 as part of a review of the Act. 

The End of Life Choice Act is the law that makes assisted dying legal in New Zealand. It came into force on 7 November 2021, following a public referendum held alongside the 2020 General Election.  

Online consultation begins today (1 August 2024) and ends at 5pm on Thursday 26 September 2024. View the online consultation.   

The Ministry of Health administers the Act. Under the legislation, the Ministry is required to review the operation of the Act within three years of it coming into force, and every five years after that.  

The Ministry is carrying out the review in two parts:  

• a review of the operation of the Act, focused on how well it is currently achieving its purposes. This is already underway.
• an online process to gather public feedback about changes that could be made to the Act. 

“Many people and organisations have expressed interest in sharing their views on the Act, so the Ministry of Health is now inviting people to share these through our digital consultation platform,” says Emma Prestidge, Group Manager, Family and Community Health Policy at the Ministry of Health.  
 
“People can share their views on any aspect of the Act. We will be collating the public feedback we receive into a summary report for the Government.”
 
Along with the summary of feedback, the Ministry will also provide the Office of the Minister of Health Hon Dr Shane Reti with a report outlining findings from its review of the operation of the Act.  Both documents will be tabled in Parliament. 

The Government will not make changes to the End of Life Choice Act following the review. However, individual political parties can decide whether they wish to progress changes through Members’ bills. 

Health New Zealand publishes data on assisted dying on a quarterly basis, and the Registrar (assisted dying) Annual Report, published by the Ministry of Health, provides an annual overview. 

The latest full-year data shows that 344 people had an assisted death in the year to 31 March 2024.  

The purposes of the End of Life Choice Act are to: 

• give people who have a terminal illness, and who meet certain criteria, the option of lawfully requesting medical assistance to end their lives 
• establish a lawful process for assisting eligible people who exercise that option 
• provide for safeguards to ensure that assisted dying is only provided to those who are eligible, who actively seek and consent to it, and that this consent is provided without pressure from others.  

Information about the public consultation and the review can be found in the Assisted Dying Service section.

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Summary

The Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy sets out the direction for the health system to better support people and their whānau living with rare disorders. It provides a framework and long-term priorities that will guide health entities in improving health and wellbeing outcomes for people and their whānau with rare disorders over the decade 2024 to 2034. 

We have heard from people and their whānau living with rare disorders that they often face significant barriers to getting timely, effective and equitable health care. Practitioners may find it difficult to diagnose rare disorders or may not know how to support their health and wellbeing.

The strategy will improve system responsiveness and support for people and their whānau living with rare disorders, as well as service providers who often face difficulties meeting patient needs.

Our vision is for all people and their whanau living with rare disorders to share in pae ora (healthy futures) and live fulfilling lives.

Supporting publications

Rare voices and aspirations – This supporting document to the Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy outlines how we achieved the Strategy with support from a broad range of expertise across the health and other sectors. Read more.

Context and evidence – This supporting document to the Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy outlines the context in which the Strategy was developed and will operate, along with evidence used in developing it. Read more.

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

This supporting document to the Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy outlines how we achieved the Strategy with support from a broad range of expertise across the health and other sectors.

This document is linked with both the Strategy and the supporting document Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy: Context and Evidence. We recommend reading this document along with the other two.

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

This supporting document to the Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy outlines the context in which the Strategy was developed and will operate, along with evidence used in developing it.

This document is linked with both the Strategy and the supporting document Aotearoa New Zealand Rare Disorders Strategy: Rare voices and aspirations. We recommend reading this document along with the other two.