Press Release – New Zealand Government The Government is promising significant change to a programme which supports the health, development and wellbeing of all tamariki from birth until five years old. Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall Associate Minister of Health The Government is promising significant change to a programme which supports the health, development and wellbeing of all tamariki from birth until five years old. “For more than 100 years there has been some form of health screening surveillance of children, and support available to whānau. But that programme has not kept up with the needs of modern families,” said Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall.