The new Minister of Health is keen to reduce hospital waiting lists.

Ayesha Verrall is taking over the portfolio previously held by Andrew Little.

Latest figures from the national health agency, Te Whatu Ora, show about 30,000 people were overdue elective surgery at the end of October.

Verrall told Mike Hosking she'll be going back to the taskforce Little set up to investigate the issue.

She says the taskforce made 100 recommendations, and she'll be holding Te Whatu Ora to task to see progress.

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