Health NZ merges multiple websites into single accessible platform 

FEATURE - eHealthNews editor Rebecca McBeth

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora has saved $22 million over three years through a website consolidation programme that has merged 130 websites into a single digital platform.  

The programme began three years ago to address a fragmented digital landscape inherited from the 29 former health entities that formed Health NZ.   

Josh Mens, digital lead for national platforms at Health NZ, says that at its peak, the organisation managed 350 public-facing websites, creating confusion for users and inefficiencies for staff.  

"The web environment we inherited was very, very fragmented," he says.   

"There were multiple websites covering the same health topic, inconsistent branding, navigation, terminology, and varying degrees of publishing and content standards.  

"For the public it was just messy and confusing."  

Benefits of consolidation  

The consolidation programme initially focused on the 20 former district health board websites and shared service agencies. This has expanded to include recruitment websites, creating a single national recruitment channel, and now consolidating mental health websites.  

Mens says the programme was not originally designed as a cost-saving initiative but rather to reflect the single organisation Health NZ had become. However, the financial benefits have enabled reinvestment in higher-quality digital services.  

"We are able to spend that money more wisely so we can engage different development vendors to help us produce a higher quality result," he explains.  

The consumer experience  

For the public, the changes mean simplified access to health information through a single, authoritative source.   

The new Health NZ website won the Best Public Sector Website award at the Plain Language Awards in 2025, reflecting improved quality content in accessible language.  

"Having a single place where people know they can go and feel confident in the information they are receiving is a massive booster for trust and confidence in Health New Zealand," Mens says.  

“Many households have that single person who is responsible for the health of the household.  

"By having all of these different health topics in one place, presented with a consistent interface, it just makes it a lot less stressful."  

Enhanced accessibility compliance with New Zealand government web standards means websites work with assistive technologies like screen readers for users with disabilities or impaired vision.  

A trusted source  

The consolidation has also improved search engine performance, with Health NZ no longer competing against itself for Google rankings. It optimises content for traditional search engines and artificial intelligence-powered search tools, including ChatGPT and Microsoft's AI search functions.  

During health emergencies or outbreaks affecting multiple regions, Health NZ can publish consistent messaging once and deploy it across relevant areas of the site, ensuring all audiences receive the same information.  

Analytics data shows increased user engagement with the consolidated content, and user testing confirms improved experiences compared to the previous fragmented system.  

"People generally only engage with us when they have to," Mens says.   

“It is often a high stress time where they access our services, so presenting it all in a way that is well tested, well written and very easy to navigate just makes it easier."  

Future plans  

The next phase will address remaining website categories such as pregnancy and maternity services, smoking cessation, vaping information, and cancer services.   

Mens says future developments may also include AI-driven search capabilities and chatbots to connect users with appropriate services, as well as integration with services like My Health Record and Book My Vaccine.  

"We want to create an experience where people can come to our website, find the right information the first time, get directed to the correct service the first time, rather than trying and failing and potentially giving up," Mens says.  

The programme supports Health NZ's broader digital strategy of directing patients to appropriate care settings, including an online GP service  

With 220 websites still needing to be consolidated Mens expects the programme to continue delivering cost savings while improving user experience and organisational efficiency.  

If you have any questions re the above feature article, please contact the editor Rebecca McBeth.

Developed in partnership with Health New Zealand

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