Health NZ aka Te Whatu Ora is an omnishambles. It just goes to show that giving an organisation a new Māori name doesn't automatically make things better. In fact, on the evidence thus far it is a whole lot worse.
The new Commissioner of Health NZ Te Whatu Ora, Professor Lester Levy, has stepped into the spotlight with some bold priorities: reducing waiting times, boosting productivity, and fostering compassion.
Sounds great on paper, right? But let’s dig deeper.
On Monday, the government announced that Levy, who was appointed as chair of the organisation in May, would now replace the entire board as commissioner.
This drastic move comes in response to serious concerns about oversight, overspend and a troubling financial outlook.
Health Minister Shane Reti has pointed out that Health NZ is currently spending $130 million a month over its budget, heading towards a staggering $1.3 billion deficit by the end of the financial year.
So, what’s gone wrong?
