Kia ora koutou

I'd like to update you on the leadership arrangements for the mental health and addiction teams in the Ministry of Health and interim Health New Zealand.

Philip Grady has agreed to take up a role with interim Health New Zealand as part of the transfer of functions from the Ministry of Health. In the ten months that Phil has been in the role of Acting Deputy Director-General, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that the enormous work programme of the Mental Health and Addiction Directorate continued to progress successfully. Phil’s passion for the sector is obvious, and it is great to see that there will be such a strong champion for this work leading the mental health and addiction team as the new entities stand up. I’d like to acknowledge his mahi and wish him well in the new role.

With Phil’s departure, I am very pleased to announce that Dr Arran Culver has agreed to take on the role of Acting Deputy Director-General for the Mental Health and Addiction Directorate as we move through the Health Reforms and develop the future Ministry. Many of you will have worked with Arran before, as he has a been with the Ministry of Health for a number of years and is currently the Chief Clinical Advisor for the Mental Health and Addiction Directorate. Arran brings a wealth of experience to the Acting DDG role.

Arran and Phil will take up their new positions on 1 June 2022. I know there is still information to be confirmed, but I would like to reiterate that the important work we are all undertaking to transform the mental health and addiction will continue.

Once again I’d like thank Phil for his time and commitment as Acting Deputy Director-General, and I am very much looking forward to working with Arran.

Ngā mihi nui,
Robyn Shearer

Acting Director-General of Health