Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says "pace" is her biggest regret from her first two years in office.

Her Government came to power with big plans. And 2019 was to be the year of delivery.

But two years into the Labour-led coalition, what has her Government actually achieved? Stuff takes stock.

Health

Is it possible to win at health? No-one can stop people dying. In fact, the longer people live, the sicker they get, and the more costly their care becomes. At worst, the health portfolio is a hospital pass. That said, it is possible to "win" at health: Helen Clark, Annette King, Jenny Shipley, and Bill English all managed to survive the portfolio and go onto bigger and better things. Will current Health Minister David Clark be able to say the same?

The good news stories come from the Budget. Enormous capital investment – more than $2 billion – has been approved in the last two Budgets to build more hospital and healthcare facilities.

New Zealand is getting some new hospital assets, including a new hospital in Dunedin. Mental health is getting some money too. After a long inquiry, which was subject to some well-deserved criticism, the Government accepted most of the recommendations, which mostly revolved around funding and new services. After years of agitation from the sector, and in broader society, it looks like mental health is being taken seriously by the Government.

But there are some dark spots too: and big ones. National's Michael Woodhouse argues, with validity, that National was on track to spend more than Labour on health this term. The current measles outbreak is also a damning stain on the Government's record in health, its reluctance to crack down on anti-vaxxers. It has led to calls for the reinstatement of more rigorous health targets.

There's also the looming problem of district health board deficits, which rose to $1 billion this year. It's no secret that the DHBs have a massive funding problem. The Government has a friend in Heather Simpson, Helen Clark's former chief of staff, who is reviewing the health system and will make recommendations on fixing it next year. The Government will take these changes to the next election, meaning the 2020 election campaign could focus on how much change – and money – Kiwis want to see in their troubled health system.