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Table 2 Description of government entities with a role in food policy

From: Implementing healthy food environment policies in New Zealand: nine years of inaction

Government departments

Descriptions

Ministry of Health

Main policy-making department on diet-related health, nutrition-related health inequalities, planning and funding public health and monitoring the performance of district health boards

Ministry for Primary Industries

Main policy-making department for New Zealand's primary industries, including food. Functions include providing national direction on ensuring the food produced is safe, enabling international market access for New Zealand’s primary products, and representing the interests of the New Zealand primary sector in international trade policy and standard-setting forums

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Main policy-making department on international food trade, overseas aid (including food aid), overseas agriculture, and the Sustainable Development Goals

Health Promotion Agency

Main communications agency to promote health, including healthy diets

Ministry for the Environment

Main policy-making department on environmental policy and provides national direction on urban (e.g. food density zoning laws) and rural planning (e.g. land use consents) through national policy statements and national environmental standards. Also focuses on climate change, fresh water, marine, land, waste, soil, air, water, sea quality

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Main policy-making department managing food and beverage industry investment, consumer protection, immigration (including migrant workers for food supply chain), business, industrial strategy, employment, energy, science, research and innovation (all with food relevance)

Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Develops and administers joint Australia and New Zealand food standards; explains food issues e.g. labelling, additives, chemicals; consults with the community about food safety issues; helps food businesses understand the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code

Ministry of Education

Main policy-making department on education, skills and curriculum, with role as food educator and food provider

Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor

Provides strategic advice across sectors and serves as an accessible conduit between the science community and government

Local government

Ensures public services are responsive to the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being needs of their communities, with a particular role in zoning law, district or regional planning, and community food supply initiatives for example

District health boards

A role to improve, promote and protect the health of people and communities, including planning and delivering services in their area

The Treasury

Overall control of government spending

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

Overall policy oversight and coordination. Contains the Child Wellbeing and Poverty Reduction Group

Te Puni Kōkiri—Ministry of Māori Development

Input into major food policies as they relate to Māori

Ministry for Pacific Peoples

Input into major food policies as they relate to Pacific Peoples

Ministry of Social Development

Main policy-making department on welfare and pensions, supporting people and whānau in food poverty

Supporting government entities

 Health Research Council of New Zealand

Sets priorities for research and funds research including on food and nutrition

 Broadcasting Standards Authority

Decides complaints about broadcasters; publishing and research broadcasting standards

 Sport New Zealand

Oversees sports sponsorship

 Commerce Commission

Enforces laws that promote competition and protect consumers in New Zealand

 National Ethics Advisory Committee

Provides ethical advice on issues of national significance in respect of health and disability, including characteristics of a fair food system delivering nutritional outcomes

 Crown Research Institutes

AgResearch: pastoral, agri-food and agri-technology sector

Plant and Food Research: horticultural, arable, seafood, and food and beverage industries

Institute of Environmental Science Research: safeguards people's health, protects the food-based economy, improves the safety of water resources

 Health and Disability Commissioner

Works with clinicians, providers and consumers to improve health services including dietary advice and interventions

 Office of the Children’s Commissioner

Advocates for the interests of young people, ensuring the voices of children are heard in policy-making

 Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Funds Broadcasting Standards Authority, NZ On Air and Sport New Zealand

 Ministry of Transport

Main policy-making department on transport, with role in supporting infrastructure for food distribution and public transport (including for food workers and customers)

 Department of Corrections

Main department with role as food provider to prisons

 Department of Internal Affairs

Conduit for local and central government

 State Services Commission

Sets standards for public servants and policy-making, including the management of conflicts of interest for food policies

 New Zealand Customs Service

Provides border control and protects the community from potential risks related to food arising from international trade and travel, as well as collecting duties and taxes on imports to the country

 Ministry of Housing and Urban Development

Main policy-making department on housing, built environment and urban development