It sets out a clear picture of how hospital services are organised nationally. The country's hospitals are ranked according to the range and type of services they provide, and the Plan spells out where each hospital sits in that system.

In order to give communities more certainty, the Government commits to maintaining the current distribution of services for three years. However, this does not mean that we should stop looking at better ways of delivering care within the current framework. Integrated care initiatives, changes to clinical practice, and the need to keep making efficiency improvements, all mean that change will continue.

Our commitment is to better care and service for New Zealanders who are ill or injured. This means ensuring that we continue to have a network of hospitals within a reasonable distance of people's homes.

We have in the last five years invested $920 million rebuilding New Zealand's public hospitals. We plan to invest up to $1 billion more over the next three years. The Government is committed to an ongoing investment in our hospitals to ensure a modern hospital system well able to meet the health needs of New Zealanders now and into the new millennium.

Our communities are fiercely supportive of their health services. I want to make that support a positive force for better health care.