District health boards (DHBs) in New Zealand were organisations established by the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 under the Fifth Labour Government, responsible for ensuring the provision of health and disability services to populations within a defined geographical area. They existed from 1 January 2001, when the Act came into force, to 30 June 2022. Initially there were 21 DHBs, and this was reduced to 20 organisations in 2010: fifteen in the North Island and five in the South Island. DHBs received public funding from the Ministry of Health on behalf of the Crown, based on a formula that took into account the total number, age, socio-economic status and ethnic mix of their population. DHBs were governed by boards, which were partially elected and partially appointed by the minister of Health.
Auckland City Hospital is a public hospital located in Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest hospital in New Zealand, as well as one of the oldest medical facilities in the country. It provides a total of 1,165 beds. It was established in 2003 as an amalgam of Auckland Hospital, Starship Hospital, Green Lane Hospital and National Women's Hospital. Public hospitals in Auckland have been run by Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand since 2022.
The healthcare system of New Zealand has undergone significant changes throughout the past several decades. From an essentially fully public system based on the Social Security Act 1938, reforms have introduced market and health insurance elements primarily since the 1980s, creating a mixed public-private system for delivering healthcare.
The Whanganui District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Wanganui, Rangitikei, and parts of the Ruapehu districts of New Zealand.
Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) was a district health board that provided healthcare in the Auckland Region in New Zealand, mainly on the Auckland isthmus. This district health board existed between 2001 and 2022 and was governed by a part-elected, part-appointed board. In 2022, its functions and responsibilities were subsumed by Te Whatu Ora and Te Aka Whai Ora.
The Counties Manukau District Health Board was a district health board which focused on providing healthcare to the Counties Manukau area in southern Auckland, New Zealand. As of 2016, it ws responsible for 534,750 residents; or 11% of New Zealand's population. In July 2022, CM Health was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Canterbury District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Canterbury region of New Zealand, north of the Rangitata River. It was responsible for roughly 579,000 residents, or 12% of New Zealand's population. The Canterbury District Health Board covered a territory of 26,881 square kilometers and was divided between six territorial local authorities. In July 2022, the Canterbury DHB was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to Wellington City, Porirua City and the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand. The CCDHB employed about 6000 people across the Wellington Region. It was disestablished on 1 July 2022, with its functions and responsibilities being taken over by the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
MidCentral District Health Board is a district health board that provides healthcare in the Manawatū region of New Zealand. The DHB covers the Manawatu District, Palmerston North City, Tararua District, Horowhenua District, and the Ōtaki ward of the Kapiti Coast District.
The Bay of Plenty District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Bay of Plenty area of New Zealand. In 2022, the Bay of Plenty DHB was dissolved as part of a national overhaul of the district health board system. Its former functions and responsibilities were assumed by Te Whatu Ora.
The Hawke's Bay District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. In July 2022, it was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Hutt Valley District Health Board is a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the cities of Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt in New Zealand.
The Lakes District Health Board is a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the area covered by Taupō and Rotorua districts in New Zealand.
The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough districts of New Zealand. In July 2022, it was merged into the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
The Southern District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to an area covering the southern half of the South Island of New Zealand. In July 2022, the Southern DHB was dissolved as part of a nationwide overhaul of the district health board system. Its former functions and responsibilities were taken over by Te Whatu Ora.
The Waikato District Health Board is a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Waikato region of New Zealand.
The Wairarapa District Health Board is a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the Masterton, Carterton, and South Wairarapa districts of New Zealand.
The Waitemata District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to people living in the area that used to be covered by North Shore city, Rodney District, and Waitakere City in New Zealand. It was abolished on July 1st 2022 and replaced with Health New Zealand.
The West Coast District Health Board was a district health board with the focus on providing healthcare to the West Coast region of New Zealand. In July 2022, the West Coast DHB's functions and responsibilities were taken over by the national health service Te Whatu Ora.
Te Whatu Ora, or Health New Zealand, is a public health agency established by the New Zealand Government to replace the country's 20 district health boards (DHBs) on 1 July 2022. Te Whatu Ora is charged with working alongside the Public Health Agency and Te Aka Whai Ora to manage the provision of healthcare services in New Zealand. Margie Apa was appointed chief executive of Te Whatu Ora in December 2021.
