Holi is a time of joy, renewal, and unity, celebrating the triumph of good over evil. It’s a vibrant reminder of the values that bring families, friends, and communities together.

New Zealand is fortunate to have a strong Indian community that enriches our society with its traditions and contributions. Holi is an opportunity to celebrate inclusivity and togetherness. To all those celebrating, I wish you a joyous and colourful Holi filled with happiness, prosperity, and good health.

Last week, our government introduced key health initiatives to improve access to timely, quality healthcare. For too long, the system has failed too many people, with long wait times for surgeries, overcrowded emergency departments, and difficulty seeing a GP. These delays have real consequences, which is why we are taking action to fix them.
We are committed to delivering real change so that people can get the care they need, when and where they need it. To address workforce shortages, we will fast-track 100 internationally trained doctors into New Zealand’s primary care system through a new two-year registration programme. In addition, we will fund up to 400 graduate nurses in general practices, offering financial incentives for GP practices to encourage placements in both urban and rural areas.
To make healthcare more accessible, we are launching a 24/7 digital healthcare service, enabling all New Zealanders access to video consultations with GPs and nurse practitioners over their phones or laptops- providing flexible, on-demand medical care.

From July 2025, Health NZ will invest $285 million over three years in performance-based funding for general practice, rewarding clinics that take new patients, meet health targets, and provide timely care.
In addition to these major changes, we also announced changes to bowel cancer screening. Bowel cancer screening will be expanded – the first step we are taking is to drop the screening age from 60 to 58, giving 122,000 Kiwis access to life-saving early detection. This aims to prevent a projected 771 additional bowel cancers and 566 bowel cancer deaths over the next 25 years.
Elective surgery wait times remain a significant issue, and to address this, Health New Zealand will invest $50 million between now and the end of June to deliver an extra 10,579 procedures. We are also partnering with private providers to accelerate elective surgeries, ensuring that more procedures can be completed sooner. If you are waiting for surgery, talk to your GP or your hospital specialist about when you can expect to get your operation done.
Emergency departments across the country are under immense pressure, with many patients waiting too long for care. We are working to ensure hospitals have the necessary staff, resources, and systems in place to treat, admit, or discharge patients faster. At the same time, we are improving access to primary care to reduce unnecessary ED visits and ensure patients receive the right care in the right setting.

With a third of GP practices unable to take new patients, too many people are left waiting, turning minor health concerns into more serious problems. We are expanding medical school placements and training more doctors and nurses to address long-term workforce shortages.
To further improve healthcare delivery, we are investing in the modernisation of hospitals and clinics across the country, ensuring they are equipped with the facilities and technology needed to provide high-quality care.
These initiatives mark the beginning of a broader effort to strengthen New Zealand’s healthcare system.
Our Government has committed a record $16.68 billion increase in funding over three years, reinforcing our focus on putting patients first. More surgeries will mean fewer people waiting in pain. Shorter ED wait times will ensure urgent care is delivered faster. Improved access to GPs will help families get the medical attention they need before health issues escalate.
By prioritising investment in frontline services instead of unnecessary bureaucracy, we are building a healthcare system that works for all New Zealanders. -Hon Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand