This document contains detailed guidance on the expectations for each planning priority. The DHB Planning Priorities are provided to assist DHB and Shared Service Agency staff to meet Ministerial expectations.

As in previous years, the 2015/16 Planning Guidelines include guidance for Annual Plans (APs), Regional Services Plans (RSPs), Māori Health Plans  and Public Health Unit Annual Plans. This year, guidelines were also published for Regional Capital Plans. The planning priorities guidance for DHB APs and RSPs was not included in the general guidance for these two plans, but is being presented in this document only in order to encourage greater alignment between the two documents, and to encourage the integration of services at the regional and DHB levels.