The “Right to Health Aotearoa” initiative seeks recognition of the right to health, including psychosocial harm, within New Zealand’s constitutional framework.
New Zealand has health and safety legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work Act. That framework focuses on managing risk within organisations.
Current legislation operates after harm is identified within specific settings. A constitutional right to health operates at a different level. It establishes a system-wide obligation to protect health and strengthens accountability across institutions.
This applies across everyday environments in Aotearoa New Zealand, including workplaces, schools, aged care, and other care settings.
It strengthens outcomes in three ways:
1. it establishes health as a protected right
2. it enables consistent standards across sectors, including public services, workplaces, and communities
3. it supports earlier intervention and clearer accountability when harm occurs
For further context, see work on the right to health in the New Zealand Medical Journal:
https://nzmj.org.nz/journal/vol-139-no-1632/is-health-a-basic-human-right-or-a-commodity-travelling-the-difficult-road-towards-equity-of-outcomes
Your support signals public backing for recognising health as a constitutional right and strengthens the case for institutional action.
This initiative is open to individuals aged 16 and over, including students.