Appointments to Health Statutory Bodies

Information on a Particular Statutory Body

Health Sponsorship Council

The HSC was established by the Smokefree Environments Act 1990. According to the Act, the Council may consist of no fewer than three members and no more than six. Members may be appointed for up to three years, and re-appointed ‘from time to time’.

Members of the HSC receive $270 per day in fees, with the Chair receiving $360 per day. This is consistent with the Fees Framework (CO (01) 8).

The core functions of the HSC are to promote health and to encourage healthy attitudes and lifestyles. The HSC’s overall objective is to market health brands and engender positive attitudes and behaviour regarding specific health issues.

Core activities of the HSC include:

• promoting and maintaining health brand identities reflecting New Zealand’s public health priorities
• promoting health messages and behaviours utilising a range of communication tools, including sponsorship
• providing a national resource to assist organisations contracting, marketing or delivering products or services bearing HSC or complementary public health brands.

To date HSC has been contracted to work in the areas of tobacco control, sun safety, cyclist and pedestrian safety, and problem gambling. It has created the Smokefree, Auahi Kore, SunSmart and Bike Wise brands to provide a consistent and coherent means of conveying the messages. In doing so, HSC aims to:

• Raise awareness of the health issues involved
• Positively influence attitudes about the health issues
• Positively influence behaviour
• Encourage local, regional and national co-operation
• And, ultimately, contribute to the reduction in health inequalities, smoking rates, cancers, cardio-vascular disease, problem gambling, and the increase in participation in the physical activities of cycling and walking (safely).

A number of devices are used to communicate the messages, including specific sponsorships, promotions and educational programmes and resources.

More information can be found on the HSC web site: www.hsc.org.nz