About the Health Quality & Safety Commission

Hauora kounga mō te katoa, quality health for all

We play a critical role as an independent and expert monitor of quality and safety across our health system. As the health system’s independent expert monitor of quality and safety, we work to reduce harm and improve care across Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system and services.

We work with clinicians, providers and health consumers to improve health services in New Zealand. We do this by:

• measuring and publishing data on health care quality and safety to highlight where improvements are needed for rapid response and action
• delivering improvement programmes, nationally and locally, to address specific challenges in the health sector
• building national frameworks to strengthen the foundations of quality care, particularly in areas like consumer engagement, clinical governance, improvement science and learning from harm
• providing expert advice on complex, system-wide issues as well as targeted local insights, ranging from operational improvements to informing legislation, such as our work underpinning the case for mortality review.

We support the health system to perform more effectively, equitably, and efficiently — reducing harm, saving lives, and improving access to care while ensuring every voice matters in shaping the health system.

Our te reo Māori name Te Tāhū Hauora, and tohu (pattern) reflects how we see ourselves, our commitment to being a Te Tiriti partnership organisation and the work we do in quality improvement and safety across the health sector. 

The tohu

Tāhū

The vertical lines running through the centre represent the three strands that, when woven together, create a strong bind. This represents the three strands that make the Commission: quality, safety and improvement. The tāhu also relates to strength and unity, which gives it integrity. 

Heke 

The heke represent our values, mission and priorities, which uphold the tāhū and secure it in place. The two koru represent Te Tiriti enactment through Māori and Crown relations.

Niho taniwha

The niho taniwha pattern represents the village or pā structure, where whānau and hapū live together within a safe environment. This relates to the protection that the tāhū and heke create for the people. People are central to all we do and are represented by the triangle at the centre, anchoring the whole structure. The darker triangles in the niho taniwha represent our work including leadership, relationships, partnerships, facilitation, knowledge and information.

We were established under the New Zealand Public Health & Disability Amendment Act 2010 and now function under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.

·         New Zealand Public Health & Disability Amendment Act 2010

·         Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.

You can find out more about our work in our corporate publications.

Corporate publications