The New Zealand experience: integrating management development into a rapidly changing health system

New Zealand has seen sweeping changes in recent years in its economic and social policies. Central to these has been the concept of better management in all phases of government activity with an emphasis upon performance, outcomes, and efficiency in achieving economic and social goals. There has been a massive reform of the health sector with restructuring of the Department of Health, devolution of most health delivery responsibilities to fourteen geographically defined area health boards, and the implementation of the principle of general management throughout the system. National health goals have been formulated to be implemented largely through area health boards. These developments have had important effects on educational programs in health services management, public health, and health policy. Collaboration through a New Zealand network of providers has been developed and a rapid growth in those seeking education and training programs has occurred. Education and training inputs are seen to be a major factor in the successful implementation of the major transformational change in New Zealand health systems.