Business of Government: health's 'hard reset', help wanted busting red-tape, and more...

The Government is promising to eliminate a forecast $1.4b health deficit without impacting services. (Image: Getty)

Wed, 24 Jul 2024

This week’s shock appointment of Lester Levy as commissioner in place of Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) being governed by a board can be traced back to the tensions inherent in Budget 2024.Only $2.4 billion was set aside for each Budget’s operating allowance, while the Treasury estimated inflation and wage movements alone would cost $2.5b. This didn’t include “additional demand pressures on services”, such as an ageing population. Since at least the Helen Clark Government, there has been a growing conc...

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