The government's introducing a 'high powered task force' to tackle the issue of ballooning waitlists for hospital operations and appointments.
There are 27,000 people who've been waiting four months or more for the treatment they require.
The problem existed long before Covid but has been much worse by lockdowns and outbreaks.
The new taskforce will take a national look at the problem - essentially one of the first major jobs of Health NZ and the Māori Health Authority which are soon to replace the country's district health boards.
Health correspondent Rowan Quinn reports.
