July 7, 2025 • 8 mins
Health Minister Simeon Brown has revealed the make-up of the new Health Zealand Board - who will take over in a fortnight.
They, along with a Crown Observer, will replace the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners appointed last year.
Experienced clinical director Doctor Andrew Connolly, and current Deputy Commissioner Roger Jarrold are among those appointed.
Brown says Commissioner Lester Levy will stay on as Chair for a year.
"This is about making sure we have continuity of leadership at Health New Zealand. The organisation's going through a reset - making sure it's refocused on patients."
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So we start with Samian Brown health Minister who's with us.
Snickeler willis on holiday. This week we have Simion Brown
good evening, Good evening, Ryan, Good to have you on
the show. Minister. So you're doing a bit of a
governance rejig health in z First of all, why are
you keeping less delivery on for another month? Another twelve months?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is about making sure we have a continuity of
leadership at Health New Zealand. The organization's going through a
reset in terms of its making sure it's refocused back
on patients and focused on delivery of our five health targets.
He's been our commissioner over the last twelve months and
has been instrumental in terms of bringing that refocus back
(00:38):
to the organization. And his role now is to make
sure that we continue to stabilize Health New Zealand so
it can continue to focus on getting those weightless under control,
ensuring patients can get the treatment they need in a
more timely body manner, and make sure that the organizations
are delivering within budget. But we've also, alongside him, appointed
a range of board members who will work along signe
(01:00):
him to bring that focus for patients to this organization.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Is it possible he could go beyond the twelve months
or are you done with them after that?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
He's agreed to do another twelve months.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
We will be.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
A long term cheer later this year to replace Lester
from the middle of next years. Done. He has he
has done a good job in terms of bringing that
focus back to the organization of patients, putting the focus
on patients, delivering within budget, and making sure that we
are achieved, working towards achieving our health targets and the
(01:36):
work that you know we announced last week around the
elective's boost, delivering more elective treatments or patients. That's you know,
the hip knees and cataract operations. That is the work
that he has been delivering for us, and that is
meaning that we're starting to see those weight times and
those weight lists actually reduced for.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Patients and needing those treatments. He's been delivering them through
the private sector, I suppose.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
But yeah, well, his role is to make sure we're
unlocking and unlock and care for patients, whether that's through
the public system, private system. My focus on hates get
the treatment they need, the timely quality.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Man fair enough, Now what faith confidence do you have
in Health New Zealand when you simultaneously appoint a board
also and a Crown observer.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Look, the key thing here is we need to make
sure this organization is delivering within its budget. It is
going through a time of change as we re establish
board governance, and this is about making sure that the
government continues to keep a particularly close eye around how
Health New Zealand's delivering within its budget and also against
(02:41):
those target measures. And so honey, Order Balcott, it has
been a point as a Crown observer. It's not unusual
for Crown observers to be appointed. It's about supporting the
re establishment.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Even as you're an appointing the brand new board. So Hammon,
when does the new board take.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Effect from the twenty third of July?
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Twenty third of July, how many people on the board? Pointed?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Seven members?
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Seven members starting twenty third of July. And already you've
decided someone needs to hold their hand.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Well, two of the two of those boardombers, one is
Lester Levy who is the commissioner, and one is Roger
Jared who is the deputy commissioner. Five of them, I
knew they were all incredibly experienced members. But look, this
is an organization.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Point commissioner. Every time you put five new people on
a board, do you this?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I guess the point that's going to point here is
this organization matters to all New Zealanders and its success
matters to all New Zealanders because health matters to all New.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Zealanderses education, so does education.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
What's incredibly focused?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I know you're incredibly focused, but just level with me, minister,
is this because you don't trust down the line at
Health end Z? That's what this is about?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, this is an organization which we inherited, which has
gone through a significant amount of changes. You may have
read the Deloitte report which was released earlier this year
which showed while the last government amalgamated the twin DHBs,
the fund that inherent Health New Zealand, they were operating
a thirty billion dollar organization out of an Excel spreadsheet.
(04:09):
That's not how you operated That's not how you operate
a thirty billion dollar organization which delivers critical health care
to five million kiwis. And so there are significant system
changes and processes that need to be developed. Your maturity
of this organization significant.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Is here to say Minister.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Your ones permitted to doing that through through government putting
a professional governance board in place, but having an observer
helps assist us in delivering that.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Is it fair to say, just to use colloquial terms,
you're once bitten twice shine. Well, we want to.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Make sure that Health New Zealand is an organization that
delivers for New Zealanders. That's what we're focused on.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
When will the delivery happen? When is it going to
be back in surplus?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Well, we're already seeing the weight light the waight times
come down for elective for the electives, were starting to
see the special the appointment waitlists come down. We're seeing
our emergency departments improve in terms of their weight times,
We're seeing immunization rates increase. So we are starting to
see delivery, which is very positive. There's a long way
to go that Health New Zealand is a massive organization.
(05:15):
It's full of incredible people who work incredibly hard. We're
focused on making sure that every quarter we continue to
improve what is delivered for New Zealanders.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
In Wellington, apparently they're going to lose maternity ward beds
to ed beds. Does that worry you?
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Look, Health Usians consulting on a change. There is a
speck capacity in in terms of beds available, in terms
of the average number which are utilized in that part
of the hospital. They're consulting about using a wing of
that part of the hospital for medical patients who are
currently waiting an ed because there's no beds available on
(05:54):
their part of the hospital. Look, they're working with the
clinicians on that. It's about making sure that there is
utilized in the capacity that is available in the best
interests of patients. Obviously, there are things they need to
work through with staff. I've been I've had the assurance
that they will work through those issues with staff, that
the patients who go into that part of the hospital
(06:14):
will obviously be in a separate part. There will be
female patients. But you know, this is a hospital which
is severely capacity constrainted, as the worst ed in terms
of d performance in the country. We're investing a significant
amount of money to rebuild their emergency department and put
more beds into this hospital. But they do need to
look just like other hospitals do around the country. How
(06:34):
do you maximize the use of your beds to ensure
that patients can be seen and get the treatment they need.
So look, these are always sensitive matters. They're working through
it to make sure that they can sound the best
sounds like you're across it, so do the best of patients.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So no new mum would be kicked out of hospital
earlier than they needed to be discharged.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
No, no, no.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
You'll confirm that for us. All right, that's good to know. Hey,
what about the SOEs you've been lights that are lining
them up for a bit of a fire sale potentially
after the election when you guys get re elected. Have
you any on the list yet or who's top of
the list.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well, well, Ryan, we're not, we're not. We're not selling
s O ees. What we are focused on is making
sure they're actually operating profitably and uh and enacting in
my job as the c s OE ministers to ensure
that their focus is on delivering for the government. There
are a number of organized number of those sees which
(07:30):
I think in more challenging positions, one of them, particularly
lend Corp, which has failed to deliver over a longer
period of time. And my focus is very much on
ensuring that business is doing what it's core businesses, which
is farming. It is, it is over. The has got
involved in various other activities and my focus is get
back to basics.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Yeah okay, so Parmy number one, who'd be number two? Well?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
I think my point, my point here Ryan is we
want these these companies to be operating profitably.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Yeah yeah, well I guess there's the questions.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Delivering a return on a return on investment to text
pace and that's what.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
If they can do that by election day, then they
won't be on the dropping block.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Oh look, our focus, our focus, my focus is on
making sure that they are operating.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
All right, appreciate your time, minister, Thanks so much for
coming on so Minister Health Minister Simeon Brown. For more
from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive Listen live to news Talks
it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
So we start with Samian Brown health Minister who's with us.
Snickeler willis on holiday. This week we have Simion Brown
good evening, Good evening, Ryan, Good to have you on
the show. Minister. So you're doing a bit of a
governance rejig health in z First of all, why are
you keeping less delivery on for another month? Another twelve months?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is about making sure we have a continuity of
leadership at Health New Zealand. The organization's going through a
reset in terms of its making sure it's refocused back
on patients and focused on delivery of our five health targets.
He's been our commissioner over the last twelve months and
has been instrumental in terms of bringing that refocus back
(00:38):
to the organization. And his role now is to make
sure that we continue to stabilize Health New Zealand so
it can continue to focus on getting those weightless under control,
ensuring patients can get the treatment they need in a
more timely body manner, and make sure that the organizations
are delivering within budget. But we've also, alongside him, appointed
a range of board members who will work along signe
(01:00):
him to bring that focus for patients to this organization.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Is it possible he could go beyond the twelve months
or are you done with them after that?
Speaker 2 (01:09):
He's agreed to do another twelve months.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
We will be.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
A long term cheer later this year to replace Lester
from the middle of next years. Done. He has he
has done a good job in terms of bringing that
focus back to the organization of patients, putting the focus
on patients, delivering within budget, and making sure that we
are achieved, working towards achieving our health targets and the
(01:36):
work that you know we announced last week around the
elective's boost, delivering more elective treatments or patients. That's you know,
the hip knees and cataract operations. That is the work
that he has been delivering for us, and that is
meaning that we're starting to see those weight times and
those weight lists actually reduced for.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Patients and needing those treatments. He's been delivering them through
the private sector, I suppose.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
But yeah, well, his role is to make sure we're
unlocking and unlock and care for patients, whether that's through
the public system, private system. My focus on hates get
the treatment they need, the timely quality.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Man fair enough, Now what faith confidence do you have
in Health New Zealand when you simultaneously appoint a board
also and a Crown observer.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Look, the key thing here is we need to make
sure this organization is delivering within its budget. It is
going through a time of change as we re establish
board governance, and this is about making sure that the
government continues to keep a particularly close eye around how
Health New Zealand's delivering within its budget and also against
(02:41):
those target measures. And so honey, Order Balcott, it has
been a point as a Crown observer. It's not unusual
for Crown observers to be appointed. It's about supporting the
re establishment.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Even as you're an appointing the brand new board. So Hammon,
when does the new board take.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Effect from the twenty third of July?
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Twenty third of July, how many people on the board? Pointed?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Seven members?
Speaker 1 (03:01):
Seven members starting twenty third of July. And already you've
decided someone needs to hold their hand.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Well, two of the two of those boardombers, one is
Lester Levy who is the commissioner, and one is Roger
Jared who is the deputy commissioner. Five of them, I
knew they were all incredibly experienced members. But look, this
is an organization.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Point commissioner. Every time you put five new people on
a board, do you this?
Speaker 2 (03:28):
I guess the point that's going to point here is
this organization matters to all New Zealanders and its success
matters to all New Zealanders because health matters to all New.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
Zealanderses education, so does education.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
What's incredibly focused?
Speaker 1 (03:41):
I know you're incredibly focused, but just level with me, minister,
is this because you don't trust down the line at
Health end Z? That's what this is about?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Well, this is an organization which we inherited, which has
gone through a significant amount of changes. You may have
read the Deloitte report which was released earlier this year
which showed while the last government amalgamated the twin DHBs,
the fund that inherent Health New Zealand, they were operating
a thirty billion dollar organization out of an Excel spreadsheet.
(04:09):
That's not how you operated That's not how you operate
a thirty billion dollar organization which delivers critical health care
to five million kiwis. And so there are significant system
changes and processes that need to be developed. Your maturity
of this organization significant.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Is here to say Minister.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Your ones permitted to doing that through through government putting
a professional governance board in place, but having an observer
helps assist us in delivering that.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Is it fair to say, just to use colloquial terms,
you're once bitten twice shine. Well, we want to.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Make sure that Health New Zealand is an organization that
delivers for New Zealanders. That's what we're focused on.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
When will the delivery happen? When is it going to
be back in surplus?
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Well, we're already seeing the weight light the waight times
come down for elective for the electives, were starting to
see the special the appointment waitlists come down. We're seeing
our emergency departments improve in terms of their weight times,
We're seeing immunization rates increase. So we are starting to
see delivery, which is very positive. There's a long way
to go that Health New Zealand is a massive organization.
(05:15):
It's full of incredible people who work incredibly hard. We're
focused on making sure that every quarter we continue to
improve what is delivered for New Zealanders.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
In Wellington, apparently they're going to lose maternity ward beds
to ed beds. Does that worry you?
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Look, Health Usians consulting on a change. There is a
speck capacity in in terms of beds available, in terms
of the average number which are utilized in that part
of the hospital. They're consulting about using a wing of
that part of the hospital for medical patients who are
currently waiting an ed because there's no beds available on
(05:54):
their part of the hospital. Look, they're working with the
clinicians on that. It's about making sure that there is
utilized in the capacity that is available in the best
interests of patients. Obviously, there are things they need to
work through with staff. I've been I've had the assurance
that they will work through those issues with staff, that
the patients who go into that part of the hospital
(06:14):
will obviously be in a separate part. There will be
female patients. But you know, this is a hospital which
is severely capacity constrainted, as the worst ed in terms
of d performance in the country. We're investing a significant
amount of money to rebuild their emergency department and put
more beds into this hospital. But they do need to
look just like other hospitals do around the country. How
(06:34):
do you maximize the use of your beds to ensure
that patients can be seen and get the treatment they need.
So look, these are always sensitive matters. They're working through
it to make sure that they can sound the best
sounds like you're across it, so do the best of patients.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So no new mum would be kicked out of hospital
earlier than they needed to be discharged.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
No, no, no.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
You'll confirm that for us. All right, that's good to know. Hey,
what about the SOEs you've been lights that are lining
them up for a bit of a fire sale potentially
after the election when you guys get re elected. Have
you any on the list yet or who's top of
the list.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Well, well, Ryan, we're not, we're not. We're not selling
s O ees. What we are focused on is making
sure they're actually operating profitably and uh and enacting in
my job as the c s OE ministers to ensure
that their focus is on delivering for the government. There
are a number of organized number of those sees which
(07:30):
I think in more challenging positions, one of them, particularly
lend Corp, which has failed to deliver over a longer
period of time. And my focus is very much on
ensuring that business is doing what it's core businesses, which
is farming. It is, it is over. The has got
involved in various other activities and my focus is get
back to basics.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Yeah okay, so Parmy number one, who'd be number two? Well?
Speaker 2 (07:57):
I think my point, my point here Ryan is we
want these these companies to be operating profitably.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Yeah yeah, well I guess there's the questions.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Delivering a return on a return on investment to text
pace and that's what.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
If they can do that by election day, then they
won't be on the dropping block.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Oh look, our focus, our focus, my focus is on
making sure that they are operating.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
All right, appreciate your time, minister, Thanks so much for
coming on so Minister Health Minister Simeon Brown. For more
from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive Listen live to news Talks
it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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