Dr Ayesha Verrall is the Minister of Health and Minister of Research, Science and Innovation. She has also previously been the Minister for COVID-19 Response and Minister for Seniors. 

Ayesha is an infectious diseases doctor. She is passionate about preventing illness so that every New Zealander can enjoy good health and live a free and full life. Ayesha is a Labour list MP from Wellington, and has previously been the Minister for Food Safety.

Ayesha grew up in Te Anau. She attended medical school at the University of Otago and worked as a junior doctor at Wellington hospital. Ayesha completed her specialist training in Singapore and researched tuberculosis in Indonesia.

In 2019 Ayesha was elected to the Capital and Coast District Health Board on a Labour ticket. She is an expert on vaccines, tuberculosis and COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic response, Ayesha was instrumental in efforts to improve New Zealand’s contact tracing.

Ayesha lives in Wellington with her partner Alice and their daughter.