Dr Diana Sarfati resigns as health director-general

Friday, 14 February 2025

Dr Diana Sarfati has resigned as director-general health, less than half-way through her five-year term.

“I have appreciated the privilege, and responsibility that has come with leading the Ministry of Health during a time of significant change within the sector,” Sarfati said in a statement.

“It is now time to allow someone new to take up the mantle of one of the most challenging and rewarding roles within the health sector.”

Sarfati was appointed for a five-year term that began on December 1, 2022. Her replacement has not been revealed.

The move comes one week after Margie Apa resigned as chief executive of Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora, and less than a month after Dr Shane Reti was replaced with Simeon Brown as health minister, while a commissioner remains in place of a board at Te Whatu Ora.

Multiple executive leaders at Te Whatu Ora have also left, as well as Riana Manuel the former head of the now defunct Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority.

Having made the decision to go, she would leave promptly, on Friday February 21.

“I will be taking some time out with family and friends before considering other opportunities. I want to take the opportunity to thank everyone working in health for the tremendous job they do – day in, day out.

“The challenge of restructuring and unifying an entire health system is not to be underestimated. I want to acknowledge the incredible people who I have worked with across the sector who give their all every day.”

Sarfati is widely experienced and is respected among the health sector, and was instrumental in setting up Te Aho o te Kahu - Cancer Control Agency in 2020.

She was the Cancer Control Agency’s chief executive before becoming interim director-general when Dr Ashley Bloomfield stepped down from the role in July 2022, more than a year before his term finished.

Health Minister Simeon Brown was asked on Friday why Sarfati was the third senior health leader to leave within a week, whether they were clashing with him and whether Sarfati was asked to leave.

He said they had made their own decisions to leave, and that he had been clear “we need the right people in all the positions in healthcare”.

Earlier, Brown described Sarfati as an “experienced and respected leader”.

‘Pattern where leadership is not supported’

A senior leader within the health sector who spoke on the condition of anonymity suspected Sarfati was put under pressure to step aside.

“It doesn’t pass the sniff test. This looks and feels like another health leader has been put in an impossible position where the position is untenable, and that is incredibly unsettling,” they told The Post.

“I think it’s clear that this Government seems to have had an issue with the leadership of our health agencies. I think what they have failed to understand is that just by getting rid of your senior leaders doesn’t actually mean that you're going to drive the change that you want.”

The senior leader spoke out because they were concerned about a “pattern where our leadership is not supported”.

“The wider health force has noticed that and is frustrated and is concerned that good people seem to be leaving. Everyone that works in the health sector is committed and dedicated to trying to improve the outcomes for Kiwis that need to use the health system … it makes it extra difficult when it feels like the government is getting in the way of that.

“They've just caused more and more and more disruption, which is ultimately going to harm the Government, and then also harm people who are trying to access the health system.”

They said Sarfati was perfect for the role, having worked as a public health physician, cancer epidemiologist and successfully setting up Te Aho o te Kahu - Cancer Control Agency - an agency which had been pivotal to rolling out the Government’s cancer drugs promise.

“Di is a world class leader. She's internationally regarded. She will be snapped up by some place somewhere in the international health system. We've lost a massive asset when it comes to trying to improve the system at such a critical time.”

“Her stepping aside just sends a very unsettling message … when someone that good is no longer able to continue under these circumstances,” the sector leader said.

Speculation has mounted over whether Sarfati, considered the head steward of the health system, was safe in the wake of other drastic leadership changes in the sector.

When Apa resigned, The Post asked Simeon Brown whether he had faith in Sarfati, as the other remaining sector sector leader, and Health NZ Commissioner Lester Levy.

Brown did not address the question about Levy and, only when pushed, said questions on Sarfati were a matter for the Public Service Commission, which refused to comment on her performance.