HiNZ 2025: Darren Douglass - Chief Information Technology Officer, Health New Zealand

Why It Matters

The plan determines how New Zealand will modernise its health infrastructure, directly impacting patient outcomes and system efficiency. Successful execution will position the country alongside leading digital health markets.

Key Takeaways

• Legacy tech stabilization essential before digital transformation
• Centre for Digital Modernisation focuses on execution, not just strategy
• Quality data needed for improved patient outcomes
• Clinician involvement critical in design and implementation
• 10-year plan aims to align NZ health with global standards

Pulse Analysis

New Zealand’s health system is at a crossroads, grappling with an explosion of data that often lacks the fidelity needed for clinical decision‑making. Darren Douglass highlighted that the sheer volume of information is less valuable than its accuracy, and that legacy IT platforms continue to hinder progress. By prioritising the stabilization of these older systems, Health New Zealand aims to create a reliable foundation upon which innovative digital tools can be layered, ensuring that investments deliver measurable improvements in patient safety and operational efficiency.

The Centre for Digital Modernisation, announced as part of the 10‑year investment plan, represents a shift from high‑level strategy to hands‑on execution. Its mandate includes orchestrating cross‑functional teams, streamlining procurement, and embedding clinicians in the design process. This clinician‑centric approach is intended to close the gap between technology developers and end‑users, fostering solutions that align with real‑world workflows and enhance the overall clinical experience. By focusing on actionable outcomes rather than abstract roadmaps, the centre seeks to accelerate the rollout of interoperable platforms and analytics capabilities.

On a broader scale, the success of New Zealand’s digital health agenda will influence its standing in the global health technology arena. As other nations adopt AI‑driven diagnostics, telehealth, and patient‑generated data ecosystems, a robust, data‑rich infrastructure becomes a competitive differentiator. Douglass’s emphasis on quality data, legacy system stability, and clinician engagement underscores the nation’s commitment to keeping pace with international standards, ultimately driving better health outcomes and more efficient resource allocation across the country.

Original Description

“We’re awash with data, but the problem is, it’s not very good data.” 💡

During Digital Health Week 2025, Darren Douglass, Acting Chief Information Technology Officer at Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, lays out the challenges and opportunities in the nation’s 10-year Health Digital Investment Plan, following its announcement at Digital Health Week.

The discussion covers why stabilising legacy tech is as crucial as driving transformation, how the new Centre for Digital Modernisation is designed to actually deliver change (not just strategy), and the complex journey to quality data that supports patient care and clinical experience. How do you ensure clinicians are truly engaged in both designing and implementing a digital plan? And what will it take for New Zealand’s health sector to keep pace with global digital transformation?

Catch this conversation and many others recorded during Digital Health Week in Christchurch, hosted by Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ) in a special playlist available here on YouTube under our channel. as well as the Talking HealthTech Podcast on your favourite platform.

#digitalhealth #healthtechnology #healthsystem #datainnovation #newzealandhealth