Hira on pause following budget recall

Hira, New Zealand’s national health information platform project, has been suspended following budget cuts for digital health. Despite the government investing over NZ$1 billion in the health system’s data and digital infrastructure since 2021, some NZ$300 million was recently withdrawn for digital health initiatives, including Hira. The suspension comes as Te Whatu Ora slows its ICT expansion to focus on more robust platforms.