[4] As of July 2024, Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora is headed by Commissioner Professor Lester Levy, who is serving for 12 months.

He claimed that centralisation took away autonomy from local regions and suggested that the government instead explore the consolidation of some functions such as asset management across the DHBs rather than abolishing them entirely.

[9][7] In late February 2023, Te Whatu Ora's chair Rob Campbell criticised the National Party's proposal to scrap the Labour Government's Three Waters reform programme in a LinkedIn post and accused its leader Christopher Luxon of "dog whistling" on the issue of co-governance.

Campbell's remarks were criticised by National MP Simeon Brown and ACT Party leader David Seymour, who accused him of breaching the Public Service Commission's policy requiring the directors of Crown entities to remain politically neutral.

Campbell defended his remarks, stating that they were made in his capacity as a private citizen and denied violating the Commission's political impartiality policy.

On 28 February, Health Minister Ayesha Verrall used her discretionary powers under section 36 of the Crown Entities Act 2004 to relieve Campbell of his position as head of Te Whatu Ora.

[20][21] On 4 May 2023, Verrall announced that Te Whatu Ora would play a leading role in the Government's 2023 Winter Health Plan that would include 24 initiatives to support community care and reduce hospital demand.

The Public Service Association (PSA) disputed the agency's claims that these data and digital changes would prioritise patient safety and privacy.

[29] On 13 February, the PSA legally challenged Health NZ's proposed digital and IT job cuts, claiming they breached employment law.

Population and migration researcher Dr Francis Collins advocated legislation ensuring greater minority representation in leadership and decision-making.

In response, Health NZ's chief executive Margie Apa claimed that the organisation was committed to diversity in its workforce but admitted they had not set targets for representation on the grounds that its employees and management were required to serve all communities equitably.

[31] In March 2024, The New Zealand Herald reported that a Health NZ manager had instructed a staff member to stop using the Māori language greetings in emails after two patients objected.

Former Health NZ chair Rob Campbell criticised the agency for its lack of "cultural leadership" and for failing to address racism.

[36] By 1 August 2024, Health NZ had dropped the Equity Adjustor Score after a review concluded it was "legally and ethically justifiable but didn't follow best practice."

[37] In early December 2023, Te Whatu Ora investigated an administrator who was accused of spreading COVID-19 misinformation using COVID-19 vaccination data obtained from the organisation.

[39] On 4 December, he was identified as Barry Young, who appeared at the Wellington District Court on the charge of accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes, which carries a maximum seven year prison sentence.

[41] On 8 December, Te Whatu Ora enlisted the services of international cybersecurity and forensic experts to investigate the COVID-19 vaccine data leak.