From: Implementing healthy food environment policies in New Zealand: nine years of inaction
Government departments | Descriptions |
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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 |