The current Minister of Health is National Party MP Simeon Brown.

[2] The first Minister of Public Health was appointed in 1900, during the premiership of Richard Seddon.

The word "Public" was dropped from the title when Sir Māui Pōmare took over the portfolio from 27 June 1923, as simply "Minister of Health".

The only function remaining was policy-making (resulting in the department being renamed a Ministry).

In July 2022, on the passing of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022, District Health Boards were disestablished and the provision and funding of healthcare was centralised under Health New Zealand.