Release of short report July 2026
A team of University of Otago Health researchers were commissioned by the Ministry of Health to examine the appropriateness and effectiveness of the methodology being piloted for planning and allocating allied health staff.
This report outlines the staffing methodology used by Health New Zealand, the University of Otago evaluation methods, and the evaluation findings.
Key findings were the high burden of data entry on staff, an overwhelming volume of data, and poor-quality data, which collectively limit the appropriateness and effectiveness of the methodology.
Recommendations are to simplify data collection, improve data quality through conceptualising clinical and non-clinical activity in ways that align with staff perceptions of their work including cultural work such as whakawhanaungatanga, and invest in data and digital support.
Health workforce staff planning is complex. The Health NZ methodology intends to capture the day-to-day activities undertaken by allied health staff, along with unmet need, and assess this against service trends and outcomes to determine workforce requirements. Its goal is optimising patient, staff and service outcomes and advancing equity.
Learnings from the evaluation will help to inform future iterations and roll out of the methodology, and support advances in the field of health workforce planning more widely.
Sincere appreciation is extended to all the participants and stakeholders whose contributions have helped to guide this work.
View the report: https://doi.org/10.82348/our-archive.00249
Research team
Health workforce planning events
Te Tāreitanga 2026: Health workforce planning research mini symposium
Date: Tuesday 1 December 2026
Venue: Pipitea Marae, 55-59 Thorndon Quay, Pipitea, Wellington
Time: 8:45am to 4:00pm (in-person) or 10.15am – 12.45pm (online)
This collaborative event will bring together researchers, policymakers, industry partners, health professionals and union representatives, students and emerging workforce voices to explore how research can strengthen workforce planning at the organisational and service level.
The day will examine practical and strategic issues including approaches to estimating workforce requirements, place-based workforce needs, maximizing scope of practice, workforce retention and representation, and value-based care. Equity will be central throughout, with the event creating a space for collaboration and practical thinking about how we can build a sustainable, appropriately skilled, representative, and equitable health workforce for the future.
Morning presentations include Professor Robin Gauld and afternoon workshops will culminate in a panel discussion convened by Professor Peter Crampton.
Registrations are open and student abstracts are invited by midday 2 October:
Visit Te Tāreitanga event listing to register
Recorded event
Planning allied health staffing: Metrics, methods and minefields
August 2026
Effective workforce planning at the local health service and organisational level is critical for optimal outcomes for patients, staff and organisations. Based on a recent scoping review of the literature, this seminar explored what is known about the mechanisms and processes by which allied health staffing methodologies can optimally align staffing to desired outcomes. It includes learnings from a recent evaluation of the Health NZ allied health staffing methodology, identifying opportunities for future development and research.
View Planning allied health staffing: Metrics, methods and minefields
For further information about this work:
Email miranda.buhler@otago.ac.nz