Digital health — technology enabling better health outcomes — is a major area of health investment in New Zealand. Grants fund telehealth, health apps, electronic health records, AI diagnostics, remote monitoring, and digital health equity. This guide covers the key funding sources.
MBIE funds digital health through multiple programmes:
- Endeavour Fund: Research and innovation including health technology
- Business Research and Development (R&D Tax Incentive): Company R&D including health tech
- Digital technology investment: AI and technology for health outcomes
NZHIH connects health technology with clinical environments:
- Innovation trials: Pilot testing digital health solutions
- Clinical partnerships: DHB and health technology partnerships
- Commercialisation support: Scaling health technology products
Te Whatu Ora digital health investment:
- Health IT infrastructure: National digital health infrastructure
- Telehealth expansion: COVID-19 accelerated telehealth — ongoing investment
- Electronic health record: National patient record systems
- Digital equity: Technology access for underserved communities
ACC funds digital health for injury rehabilitation:
- Telerehabilitation: Remote physiotherapy and occupational therapy
- Digital wellbeing: Apps for rehabilitation support
- Technology for return to work: Digital tools for vocational rehabilitation
HRC funds digital health research:
- mHealth research: Mobile health application research
- Telehealth effectiveness: Evidence for remote care models
- AI in diagnostics: Machine learning for clinical decision support
Gaming trusts fund community digital health:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community health including digital access
- Grassroots Trust: Community health technology
- Pub Charity: Community health
Gaming trust digital health applications:
- Telehealth equipment for rural communities
- Digital literacy for health technology access
- Community health kiosks
Callaghan Innovation funds health technology businesses:
- R&D grants: Commercial health technology development
- Co-funded internships: Technical talent for health tech companies
Technology access for underserved communities:
- Digital divide: Rural and low-income communities lacking technology access
- Digital literacy: Ability to use telehealth and health apps
- Devices and connectivity: Hardware and internet access for digital health
Telehealth coverage:
- Rural health: Remote consultation for rural patients
- Mental health: Online therapy and digital mental health
- Specialist access: Remote specialist consultation from DHBs
- Aged care: Telehealth for older adults
AI in healthcare investment:
- MBIE: AI for health technology
- University research: Machine learning in clinical decision support
- Commercial: AI health technology companies (Callaghan Innovation support)
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Clinical evidence: Evidence that the technology improves health outcomes
- Equity: Digital health reaching underserved communities
- User design: Technology designed with clinicians and patients
- Interoperability: Integration with existing health systems
- Privacy and security: Health data security and privacy compliance
- Scalability: Technology that can reach large populations
- Implementation: Adoption pathway within health system
- Cost-effectiveness: Value compared to existing approaches
Tahua's grants management platform helps digital health organisations manage grant applications across MBIE, Te Whatu Ora, HRC, NZHIH, and health technology funders, tracking clinical outcomes, adoption, and health equity improvements through digital health innovation.