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Setting national research priorities

The Health Research Council (HRC) has a leading role in implementing New Zealand's first unified set of health research priorities.

The New Zealand Health Research Prioritisation Framework document cover

Together with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE), we are bringing the vision of the New Zealand Health Research Strategy (2017-2027) to life. After wide consultation with New Zealanders, we are now delighted to present the New Zealand Health Research Prioritisation Framework which will drive New Zealand's health research investment decisions from now until 2027.

This framework is key to ensuring that research efforts across the country are aligned and designed to address areas of highest need. It prioritises how and why health research needs to be done in New Zealand in order to drive high-level health and social outcomes, and ensure maximum impact from the government’s investment in health.  

Under the new framework, researchers applying for government funding will need to:

  • Address why their research is important to New Zealand
  • Consider mana tāngata and advancing Māori health
  • Meet the criteria of excellence
  • Ensure their research has the best chance of delivering impact
  • Include measures to improve health equity.

Implementing the NZHRS and the Prioritisation Framework is the joint responsibility of MBIE, the Ministry of Health and the HRC. Further engagement with research funders and providers will take place in the new year. In the meantime, you can find both English and Te Reo Māori versions of the framework here in the HRC's Resource Library.

For background on how we came to this model, and who and what was involved, check out our blog below which began in 2018 and has continued to be updated as the consultation process progressed. 

 

Prioritisation background - consultation process

  • Consultation feedback, in summary

    Issue date:

    The New Zealand Health Research Prioritisation Framework, released earlier this week, was the result of a wide-ranging consultation process with health researchers, research funders, NGOs, government agencies, primary health providers, clinicians, allied health professionals, and Mâori, Pacific and disability representatives

    This document sets out a summary of the submissions received as part of the final consultation process that took place between 12 March and 1 April 2019.

    The HRC, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment are sincerely grateful for everyone's input throughout this important process.

  • Update On 2019 Consultation

    Issue date:

    Many thanks to all who took part in our third priority-setting consultation process in March this year. This consultation was a joint initiative between the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and the Health Research Council (HRC). The three agencies have been working with an independent Development Group to establish health research investment priorities that will create enduring change for the life of the New Zealand Health Research Strategy (2017-2027) and beyond.

    The results of this consultation build on the feedback we received in the initial round of consultation in September and October 2018, which captured a wealth of information from a wide range of stakeholders. The Development Group has deliberated extensively on this feedback to inform a revised version of the prioritisation model, which is now progressing through the final stages of development.

    The timeframe for publication has been delayed from earlier indications of June 2019. This is to ensure that feedback from the New Zealand Health Research Strategy Steering Group is thoroughly considered and addressed to support implementation. As a next step, the HRC will be presenting the revised version to the Steering Group for indicative approval, before proceeding for approval by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Research, Science and Innovation.

    The HRC will keep you informed of progress with an updated timeframe for the launch in due course, at which time we will also publish a summary of feedback from the consultation.

  • Consultation On New Zealand's Draft Prioritisation Vehicle Opens Today

    Issue date:

    Consultation opens today into the draft prioritisation vehicle that will drive health research investment in New Zealand up until 2027.

    Feedback is sought on the proposed model through an online survey that will run for three weeks, from 12 March to 1 April.

    Feedback from this round of consultation will lead to the final prioritisation vehicle and health research priority actions being established in mid-2019.

    This consultation is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC). The three agencies have been working with an independent Development Group to establish a model that will create enduring change for the life of the New Zealand Health Research Strategy (2017-2027) and beyond.

    An initial round of consultation, held in September and October last year, captured a wealth of information from a wide range of stakeholders. In addition to health researchers, feedback came from NGOs, consumers, government agencies, clinicians and allied health professionals; insights also came from consultation workshops with Māori, Pacific and disability communities. That feedback formed the basis of the revised prioritisation model developed by the independent Development Group (see pdf below).

    Anyone unable to fill out the online survey is welcome to email their responses to Dr Patricia Anderson, the HRC's chief advisor for Research Policy, Strategy and Evaluation, at panderson@hrc.govt.nz.

    Consultation closes at 5pm, Monday 1 April 2019. 

  • Setting New Zealand's Health Research Priorities - Results From 2018 Consultation

    Issue date:

    Many thanks to all who took part in our initial priority-setting consultation process in October last year. A summary of the submissions and feedback heard at public meetings is now available here.

    The results of the Consultation were used by the independent Development Group to inform their revisions to the prioritisation model, which will be released for further consultation in mid-March. This will be the final opportunity for input on the priority areas that will guide New Zealand research up until 2027.

    We look forward to your contribution to this important process and the opportunity to deliver on the Strategy's vision of improving the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders.

  • Setting New Zealand's Health Research Priorities - Update

    Issue date:

    Thanks to the responses of all who took part in our priority-setting consultation process last year, New Zealand is moving closer to its first set of health research priorities.

    The results of that consultation will be available on this consultation page within a couple of weeks.

    Based on the submissions received and feedback heard at public meetings with Māori, Pacific people and members of the disabled community, the independent Development Group overseeing the prioritisation process met in November to establish a set of revised priority areas.

    The group is due to meet again at the end of this week to further revise these priorities before another consultation takes place in March this year. This will be the final opportunity for input on the priority areas that will guide New Zealand research up until 2027.

    In the meantime, the Health Research Council will be contacting all those who attended, or registered for, our public meetings to provide them with a summary of the input they gave and how it has been incorporated in the Development Group's revised priority areas.

    Many thanks again to all who took part in this important exercise. It has helped clarify what is critical for us to focus on in New Zealand, and has helped inform the level at which priorities should be set in order to balance the needs of New Zealanders, families and communities.