46112 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

46112 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter January to March 2024 to ‘Implement healthy public policies locally and regionally, to reduce harm from alcohol and other drugs, tobacco, unhealthy foods and obesogenic environments for all communities, with a focus on those with high proportions/ numbers of Māori, Pacific and other groups with inequitable outcomes’ under section 2.1 ‘Pae ora Better health in our communities’ within Te Whatu Ora’s Te Pae Tata: Interim New Zealand Health Plan 2022?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that during the January to March 2024 quarter, Health New Zealand progressed the following actions to reduce harm from alcohol and other drugs, tobacco, unhealthy foods, and obesogenic environments: • Continued to implement rangtahi-led initiatives aimed at advocating for healthy public policies. • Continued to strengthen relationships with local and regional councils, who implement local and regional policy, to influence and advise on policies that impact equitable public health outcomes. • Focused regional level engagements took place to influence key community partners to improve physical activity and healthy food environments, and to reduce alcohol and tobacco, and vaping-related harm, particularly within workplaces, schools, kura, early learning services, local government, iwi, and communities. • Provided subject matter expertise in national policy work such as Tobacco Best Practice Statements. • Health promoters and public health nurses continued to support healthy policies in education settings. • Work continued with local councils to jointly review local alcohol policies and alcohol harm strategies. • Continued delivery of the Healthy Active Learning programme in schools and ECEs, which includes support for healthy food and drink policies in these settings. • Continued to lead development of the Wellington Regional Food System Plan in partnership with the Wellington Regional Leadership Committee – a collaborative approach with mana whenua and communities.