Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall

The Government is taking action to reduce the number of young people taking up vaping.

The Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive has supported more than $2 billion of New Zealand business innovation – an increase of around $1 billion in less than nine months.

Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met in Wellington today and affirmed the two countries’ long-standing science relationship.

Health Minister Ayesha Verrall has opened two new state-of-the-art mental health facilities at the Christchurch Hillmorton Hospital campus, as the Government ramps up its efforts to build a modern fit for purpose mental health system.

About 6,100 more GP, community nurses and kaiāwhina will be eligible for pay rises of 8% on average to reduce pay disparities with nurses in hospitals, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today.

The Chris Hipkins Government is tackling pay and workforce pressures in the health system with a billion dollar boost that will increase pay rates and the number of nurses.

Budget 2023 positions the New Zealand economy for a low-emissions, high-wage future with a major investment into our science, digital and horticultural technology sectors.

The Chris Hipkins Government is reducing the cost of health care for New Zealand households by removing the $5 co-payment for prescription medicines from July this year.

The Cyclone recovery package is providing dedicated investment into mental health and wellbeing support, including extending the successful Mana Ake programme developed following the Christchurch quakes into every school in the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.

New Zealand has a comprehensive plan in place to ease winter pressure on the health system, Minister of Health Dr Hon Ayesha Verrall announced today.

The Government’s level of investment in research and development is paying off with new figures showing total expenditure in R&D hit record levels last year and has increased by 67 per cent since 2016.

A new integrated health facility built to improve and future-proof care for the Buller community was officially opened by Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon.

Primary care providers will receive a $44 million funding boost to deliver high quality services  focussed on benefitting Māori and Pacific populations.

The Government is strengthening its commitment to delivering a new state of the art hospital in Dunedin, with an additional funding being invested in the facility.

The Government has made $10.8 million available for urgent research and science services to aid the recent extreme weather response and recovery.

Being up to date with vaccinations, staying home if unwell and wearing masks in healthcare settings remains key to minimising the impact of COVID-19 and reducing pressure on our health system over winter.

The Government has added 32 new health sector roles to the Straight to Residence pathway of the Green List to help prepare our health system for the coming winter.

From today, 1.8 million flu vaccines are available to help protect New Zealanders from winter illness, Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall has announced.

Over 8000 community nurses will start receiving well-deserved pay rises of up to 15 percent over the next month as a Government initiative worth $200 million a year kicks in.

A world-leading payments system is expected to provide a significant cash flow boost for Kiwi innovators.

The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon.

Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall said a new wellbeing website will give those with mild and moderate mental health and addiction issues an easier pathway to free support.

Nurses have received an historic bump in pay, with interim equity payments being completed across the country, Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall said.

Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall has appointed Naomi Ferguson as the interim Board Chair for Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand.