Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand

What Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand does

The Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand (Te Tāhū Hauora) is a New Zealand Crown Agent established in 2010 and operating under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022. It functions as the statutory body responsible for leading and coordinating quality and safety improvement across the entire New Zealand health and disability system. The Commission works with clinicians, health providers (Te Whatu Ora districts, PHOs, general practices), professional bodies, and healthcare consumers/whānau to reduce preventable harm, improve clinical governance, and learn from adverse events.

Its core product portfolio combines a national data intelligence platform with system-safety programmes and consumer engagement frameworks. Data products include the Atlas of Healthcare Variation, Quality and Safety Markers (QSMs), the Dashboard of Health System Quality, Health Quality Intelligence reports, and Open4Results six-monthly harm/savings reports, with interactive visualizations built on Tableau. Patient-facing measurement comprises national Patient Experience Surveys (delivered via Ipsos using the Picker Institute instrument), Patient-Reported Outcomes measures, and the newly expanded Home and Community Support Services (HCSS) survey. System-safety offerings include the Harm (Adverse) Event Submission Portal, the National Mortality Review function (covering child/youth, perinatal/maternal, perioperative and family violence deaths), and clinical programmes in aged residential care, patient deterioration, sepsis, and infection prevention/control. Consumer engagement is delivered through Partners in Care (He Hoa Tiaki), the Consumer Health Forum Aotearoa, and the Code of Expectations for health entities' engagement with consumers and whānau, which is secondary legislation under Section 59 of the Act.

The Commission's business model is non-commercial: it is funded through NZ Government budget appropriations and does not generate revenue from product sales, licensing, or services. All resources, surveys, frameworks, and tools are provided free of charge to health sector stakeholders and the public. Distribution is direct-to-stakeholder via the hqsc.govt.nz website, an eLearning platform, a regular newsletter, social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube), and annual awareness campaigns including Aotearoa Patient Safety Day and Wiki Haumaru Tūroro | Patient Safety Week. Quantified outcomes cited by the Commission include 124 fewer fall-related broken hips since June 2013 (≈NZD $5.8M saved), 334 DVT/PE cases avoided since January 2013 (≈NZD $7.0M saved), a reduction in surgical site infections from 1.2% to 0.9% since August 2015 (up to ≈NZD $3.8M saved), 138,000 fewer bed-days and ≈NZD $106M saved since January 2013, and 896 fewer deaths of children aged 28 days to 24 years since 2010.

Name

Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand

Legal name

Health Quality & Safety Commission Te Tāhū Hauora

Website

https://hqsc.govt.nz

Company type

Public

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand (Te Tāhū Hauora) is a statutory Crown Agent that monitors and improves quality and safety across New Zealand's health system, serving Te Whatu Ora, primary care providers, clinicians, and consumers/whānau with national data, mortality review, and consumer engagement programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Quality and Safety Monitoring

NAICS

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Evaluation & Health Technology Assessment (Public Programs) (HLAJANAL), Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) (BPADAIAE)

Keywords

• Healthcare quality monitoring
• Patient safety programmes
• Clinical governance services
• Mortality review committees
• Consumer health engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a Crown Agent, the Commission is funded through the New Zealand Government's budget allocation. The organization does not generate commercial revenue but operates as a public sector entity monitoring healthcare quality and safety.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Health Quality & Safety Commission Te Tāhū Hauora is a New Zealand Crown Agent that monitors and improves quality and safety across the national health and disability system. It delivers national quality and safety indicators, patient experience surveys, mortality review committees, adverse event reporting systems, clinical governance frameworks, codes of expectations for consumer engagement, and a portfolio of data intelligence tools (Atlas of Healthcare Variation, Quality and Safety Markers, Health Quality Intelligence dashboard, Open4Results). Services are provided free of charge to health providers, clinicians, and the public under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022.

Product overview

Health Quality & Safety Commission Te Tāhū Hauora operates as a Crown Agent that monitors quality and safety across New Zealand's health system. The organization functions as a unified platform-plus-portfolio model, combining data intelligence tools (Atlas of Healthcare Variation, Quality and Safety Markers, Health Quality Intelligence dashboard), patient-reported measurement systems (Patient Experience Surveys, HCSS surveys), system safety programs (Harm Event Reporting Portal, Infection Prevention, Mortality Review), and consumer engagement initiatives (Partners in Care, Consumer Health Forum, Code of Expectations). Together, these products provide insights, expert advice, and data to improve safety and quality across the health sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Partners in Care / He Hoa Tiaki: A program focused on consumer engagement and partnership in health care
• He Tāhū Hauora

Products and services

• Atlas of Healthcare Variation An interactive tool that allows analysis of healthcare variation across New Zealand, identifying unwarranted variation to support quality improvement initiatives. For clinicians, providers, and analysts.
• Patient Experience Surveys National surveys collecting patient-reported experience measures across hospital inpatient, primary care, and home and community support services settings, administered in partnership with Ipsos using the Picker Institute 250-question instrument. For health providers, DHBs/Te Whatu Ora districts, PHOs, and the public.
• Quality and Safety Markers (QSMs) National metrics measuring progress on quality and safety improvements in the health sector, including falls prevention, healthcare-associated infections, and surgical site infections. For health sector leaders and clinicians.
• Harm (Adverse) Event Submission Portal A portal for reporting and reviewing adverse events across the health system to support learning and system safety improvements. For healthcare providers and clinicians.
• Health Quality Intelligence Data intelligence and analysis platform providing insights into health system quality, including transparency reports and quality monitoring. For analysts, providers, and policy makers.
• Dashboard of Health System Quality Interactive dashboard presenting key quality indicators across the New Zealand health system. For the public, providers, and policy makers.
• Window on Quality Series Annual and periodic reports providing comprehensive analysis of health system quality in New Zealand, including health equity, Pacific health, and system resilience. For health sector leaders, policy makers, and researchers.
• Open4Results Six-monthly reporting on harm prevented and financial savings achieved through quality improvement initiatives across health sector programmes. For the public, providers, and policy makers.
• National Mortality Review Mortality review committees examining deaths across categories including child and youth, perinatal and maternal, perioperative, and family violence to reduce preventable deaths. For clinicians, coroners, and policy makers.
• Partners in Care (He Hoa Tiaki) Consumer engagement programme supporting partnerships between health providers and consumers/whānau in healthcare design and delivery. For consumer representatives, health providers, and whānau.
• Code of Expectations for Consumer Engagement Secondary legislation setting expectations for how health entities must work with consumers, whānau and communities in planning, design, delivery and evaluation of health services. For health entities and consumer representatives.
• Consumer Health Forum Aotearoa A forum providing opportunities for consumer voices to be heard in health system planning and improvement. For consumer representatives and the public.
• Infection Prevention and Control Resources Resources supporting infection prevention and control including hand hygiene programmes, healthcare-associated infection surveillance, and surgical site infection improvement. For clinicians and healthcare providers.
• Aged Residential Care Programme Quality improvement initiatives for aged residential care facilities including frailty care guides and pressure injury prevention. For aged residential care providers and clinicians.
• Patient Deterioration Programme Early warning systems and vital sign charts to identify and respond to patient deterioration in healthcare settings. For clinicians and hospital staff.
• Sepsis Programme Resources and guidelines for sepsis prevention, early identification and management across the health system. For clinicians and healthcare providers.
• Frailty Care Guides Clinical guidance documents supporting appropriate care for frail older adults in various healthcare settings. For clinicians and aged care staff.
• eLearning Modules Online learning modules covering topics including human factors, understanding bias in health care, and anti-seizure medicines safety, delivered via the LearnOnline platform. For clinicians, healthcare workers, and learners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since June 2013, 124 fewer falls resulting in broken hip and estimated $5.8 million saved
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Te Whatu Ora – Health New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Commission works closely with Te Whatu Ora, the Crown entity responsible for running New Zealand's public health services. This includes surveillance of healthcare-associated infections across all Te Whatu Ora districts, adverse event reporting, and quality improvement collaboration.
• New Zealand Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Commission collaborates with the Ministry of Health on joint transparency initiatives and health data reporting. Under the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, the Commission advises the Minister of Health on quality and safety matters.
• Primary Health Organisations (PHOs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Commission works with PHOs on patient experience surveys, Atlas of Healthcare Variation analyses, and quality improvement initiatives. PHOs receive support and resources for implementing quality improvement programmes.
• ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on child and youth safety initiatives, including ACC's quad bike child safety forum where CYMRC members present findings on off-road vehicle child and youth deaths.
• IpsoscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerContracted provider for the New Zealand patient experience survey programme, conducting surveys and collecting patient feedback data on behalf of the Commission.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Statistics New Zealand: NZ government statistics agency providing the population-level data that underpin HQSC's Atlas of Healthcare Variation and QSM denominators. Ecosystem enabler and data partner rather than a direct competitor, but central to HQSC's data infrastructure.
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI): US-based not-for-profit focused on healthcare quality improvement, patient safety programmes, and capability building. Adjacent to HQSC's quality improvement and clinical governance work but operates as an enabling/thought-leadership organization rather than a statutory regulator.
• Health Quality & Safety Commission (no further peers within single-country scope): No additional NZ-specific peers of comparable scope exist; the Commission is the sole statutory national health quality body in New Zealand. Additional comparable bodies in smaller jurisdictions (e.g., Norwegian Directorate of Health, Danish Health Authority) are not listed to avoid padding with low-confidence matches.

Direct peers

• Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen): Swedish government agency responsible for national health and welfare standards, including quality indicators, mortality review equivalent functions, and statutory guidance to providers. Comparable as a national statutory quality oversight body in a publicly funded health system.
• Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care: Australian statutory body with an almost identical mandate to monitor and improve safety and quality across the healthcare system, including national standards, clinical care standards, and the Atlas of Healthcare Variation equivalent (Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation). Closest direct international peer in scope, function, and outputs.
• Care Quality Commission (CQC): England's independent regulator of health and adult social care, performing inspection, monitoring, and ratings of providers. Direct peer in statutory authority to assess health services quality and publish national performance indicators across a national health system.
• Health Quality Ontario (Ontario Health): Previously an independent Crown agency advising on quality in Ontario's health system, now part of Ontario Health. Direct peer in producing quality standards, reporting on health system performance, and supporting clinical adoption of best practice within a publicly funded health system.
• Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Scottish statutory body providing scrutiny, supporting improvement, and publishing standards and indicators on healthcare quality. Comparable in scope to HQSC's quality improvement programmes, mortality review, and clinical governance work within a national NHS-style system.

Broad incumbents

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): UK body providing national guidance, quality standards, and indicators for health and social care. Overlaps with HQSC on quality standards and indicators but also covers clinical guidelines and technology appraisal, making it a broader-scope incumbent in the same domain.
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): US federal agency producing national quality and safety indicators, patient safety research, and healthcare quality reports. Comparable in publishing national quality data and indicators (e.g., National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports) but operates at a much broader scale and is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5yFtbreIu20QxZMb4v7L7Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/HQSCNZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/health-quality-&-safety-commission
• Instagraminstagram.com/hqscnz

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Health Quality & Safety Commission New Zealand