19 August 2026

Health and community services providers prepare for New Zealand’s growing demand

Health and community service providers across New Zealand are facing mounting pressure to deliver high-quality care amid workforce shortages, rising costs and complex funding environments.

A recent roundtable hosted by TechnologyOne brought together leaders from across the health and community services sector to explore these challenges, along with the opportunities and priorities shaping the future of care.

Health and community organisations play a critical role in supporting New Zealanders, from aged care and disability services to hospitals and health insurance. As the population ages and demand for care services grows, providers are supporting more people with increasingly complex needs.

At the same time, they are managing greater expectations around transparency, reporting and accountability, all while keeping their organisations financially sustainable.

To meet these challenges, organisations are strengthening the operational foundations that underpin frontline service delivery. This includes improving workforce visibility, financial management and organisational planning, while reducing the administrative burden, so care teams stay focused on the individuals, families and communities they serve.

Looking ahead, providers must respond to rising demand while adapting to changing service expectations, funding models and workforce requirements. Building resilient organisations that can keep delivering high-quality care will remain a key priority.

New Zealand Health Group’s Group Financial Controller, Bevan Cho, said “Demand keeps growing, but workforce and funding pressures mean we need to think differently about how we operate. Our challenge is maintaining high-quality care and support while making the best use of our resources. Strengthening the systems and processes that support frontline teams is central to making this happen.”

Heritage Lifecare’s Finance Operations Manager, Chandra Yee, said “The challenge isn't simply delivering more services. It's ensuring we have the capacity, systems and information to meet increasingly complex community needs. Getting those foundations right ensures we can allocate our staff where they have the greatest impact.”

TechnologyOne’s New Zealand Country Manager, Ben Sheehan, said “Throughout the discussion, we heard a shared focus on sustainability, visibility and supporting frontline teams. Organisations provide different services, but many manage similar challenges around workforce planning, financial management, compliance and reporting. With the right technology, providers can direct more resources towards the people and communities they support.”

As demand for health and community services grows, collaboration and knowledge sharing will help organisations build resilience, deliver sustainable services and keep improving outcomes for New Zealanders.