Internal documents reveal Health Ministry shake-up

Thursday, 3 July 2025

MoH would keep directorates such as the Public Health Agency, corporate services and Māori health. The ‘clinical, community and mental health’ directorate was among the groups to merge - with most mental health functions moving into the Public Health Agency.

Internal documents obtained by The Post reveal a structural shake-up at the Ministry of Health, including moving its mental health functions.

“A handful of roles” will be affected by the change, MoH confirmed.

The change includes reducing ministry directorates from nine branches across the agency, down to six.

MoH’s structure is broken into directorate, which are in charge of different areas across the agency - such as regulating and monitoring performance of the health system, or providing health economics and research.

It would keep directorates such as the Public Health Agency, corporate services and Māori health. The clinical, community and mental health directorate was among the groups to merge. Most mental health functions, including the Suicide Prevention Office, would move to the Public Health Agency. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey welcomed the mental health changes.

It is understood some ministry staff were concerned by the changes - especially around mental health.

Green Party mental health spokesperson Kahurangi Carter was worried “about the inconsistencies that will occur if the MOH continues with disbanding and restructuring mental health and addiction services”.

“The government needs a clear plan for suicide prevention and mental health and addiction services.

Green MPs Kahurangi Carter and Tamatha Paul.

“What's concerning is the inconsistency, the uncertainty and making sure that we have services available for people in crisis.”

One document says there is ”broad support“ for the mental health functions to move into the Public Health Agency but it also notes there is ”some concern“ about splitting the mental health focussed on addiction from the broader addiction and suicide prevention group.

The strategy and policy, and evidence groups will merge. “With the right leadership and operating model, the strategy, evidence and analysis functions can be given the space to focus on the longer-term work without being crowded out by the policy function.”

It also says, “these reporting arrangements will, for a period of time, fall outside the Ministry organisational rules, however it is a necessary step to achieve the overall objective of bringing data, evidence and clinical advice more closely into the policy and strategy formulation process”.

Director-General of Health Audrey Sonerson confirmed the changes “to its second-tier leader positions to better allow the ministry to deliver on its core responsibilities”.

“The changes merge four internal groups across other parts of the organisation which means the Ministry is reducing the number of groups from nine to six.

“The changes are focused on the second-tier leaders within the organisation with minimal impact on other staff. The number of mental health staff would be unchanged.

“A handful of roles are affected by the changes. Those affected staff are able to apply for the newly established second-tier roles.”

Last year, a proposal to change the Suicide Prevention Office (SPO) left both the ministry minister scrambling, spurring Doocey to state it would remain open and for MoH to make an apology for “confusion”.