Search written questions to Ministers and the replies they have received.
Showing 1351 to 1400 of 1569 written question sets.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 2 March 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Casey Costello
List MP · NZ First Party · Associate Minister of Health
As Associate Minister of Health, none.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 2 March 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I did not take any papers to Cabinet during the week beginning 2 March 2026.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
Matching question numbers: 7508 (2026)
What is the total full-time equivalent of clinicians delivering consultations through the online 24/7 GP service?
How many of the clinicians delivering consultations through the online 24/7 GP service are employed or contracted on a full-time basis and part-time basis?
Does Health New Zealand require approved providers of the online 24/7 GP service to collect and report data on whether clinicians are employed or contracted on a full-time or part-time basis; and if not, why not?
Does Health New Zealand require approved providers of the online 24/7 GP service to collect and report data on the physical location of clinicians at the time of delivering consultations, if not, why not?
How many clinicians currently providing consultations through the Government's online 24/7 GP service are physically located outside of New Zealand when delivering those consultations?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
The Government’s new Online GP Care service is a demand driven service which ensures New Zealanders can get timely medical advice and treatment when in-person appointments aren’t available. This is all part of our goal to fix the basics…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
Did Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora have a fully funded and operationally ready Winter Preparedness Plan in place by the end of February 2026, if so on what date was this finalised or approved?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that the Winter Plan for 2026 was approved by the Health New Zealand Board on 3 March 2026. I also refer the Member to the following press release:…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
Has Health New Zealand or the Ministry of Health completed an assessment of the impact of the 24/7 online GP service on enrolled general practice patient volumes, if so, on what date?
Have any reviews of the Government's 24/7 online GP service been completed and if so, on what date(s)?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
The Government’s new Online GP Care service is a demand driven service which ensures New Zealanders can get timely medical advice and treatment when in-person appointments aren’t available. This is all part of our goal to fix the basics…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
What is the total subsidy expenditure on the 24/7 online GP service since 16 May 2025?
How much of the $143.499 million in operating funding approved for the 24/7 digital GP service over the Budget 2025 forecast period, has been spent to date, broken down by expenditure type?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
The Government’s Online GP Care service is a demand driven service which ensures New Zealanders can get timely medical advice and treatment when in-person appointments aren’t available. This is all part of our goal to fix the basics and…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
Have any discretionary availability payments been made to online GP service providers to cover rostering costs of the Government's 24/7 online GP service broken down by date and amount?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
The Government’s new Online GP Care service is a demand driven service which ensures New Zealanders can get timely medical advice and treatment when in-person appointments aren’t available. This is all part of our goal to fix the basics…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
Are any providers of the Government's 24/7 online GP service receiving availability, standby, or minimum-guarantee payments regardless of the number of consultations delivered?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised, no.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
Has the Phase Two open-market procurement for the Government's 24/7 Online GP service, planned for the second half of 2025, been completed, if not, why not?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
The Government’s new Online GP Care service is a demand driven service which ensures New Zealanders can get timely medical advice and treatment when in-person appointments aren’t available. This is all part of our goal to fix the basics…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What percentage of all consultations with a GP through the Government's 24/7 online GP service occur during standard GP business hours (8am–5pm weekdays) versus after hours and overnight?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
The Government’s new Online GP Care service is a demand driven service which ensures New Zealanders can get timely medical advice and treatment when in-person appointments aren’t available. This is all part of our goal to fix the basics…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What is the total amount paid to each of the eight approved providers of the Government's 24/7 online GP service since its launch, broken down by month?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that the amount paid to each provider cannot be provided as the release of this information would be likely to prejudice the commercial position of the providers.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What percentage of users of the Government's 24/7 Online GP Care service are enrolled with a GP, and what percentage are unenrolled?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that the information, as requested by the Member, is not held by Health New Zealand.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many individual people have used the 24/7 Online GP Care service since its launch, and how many consultations have been delivered, broken down by month?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
The Government’s new Online GP Care service is a demand driven service which ensures New Zealanders can get timely medical advice and treatment when in-person appointments aren’t available. This is all part of our goal to fix the basics…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
Has the Minister declined any requests from the Advisory Committee for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART) to progress a public consultation process to develop guidelines for Human Reproductive Research, if so why?
Answered by
Hon Casey Costello
List MP · NZ First Party · Associate Minister of Health
No. In line with ACART's terms of reference, I asked that the committee prioritise its work programme to ensure the current assisted reproduction system works well for New Zealanders.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What types of AI tools used in healthcare will be regulated by the upcoming Medical Products Bill, if any?
Answered by
Hon Casey Costello
List MP · NZ First Party · Associate Minister of Health
The Medical Products Bill (the Bill) will regulate AI tools that are intended for a therapeutic purpose, rather than regulating AI more broadly. Specifically, the Bill will apply to software and AI that meet the internationally accepted…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 23 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I did not take any papers to Cabinet during the week beginning 23 February 2026.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 23 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Casey Costello
List MP · NZ First Party · Associate Minister of Health
As Associate Minister of Health, none.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 23 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Health
None.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 23 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Matt Doocey
Member for Waimakariri · National Party · Associate Minister of Health
None.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 23 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
Titles of advice that I have received that support delivering access to timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders have been, or will be, proactively released on the Ministry of Health, Health New Zealand and Pharmac websites:…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 23 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon Casey Costello
List MP · NZ First Party · Associate Minister of Health
Titles of all advice that I have received have been, or will be, proactively released on the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand websites:…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 23 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Health
Titles of all advice that I have received have been, or will be, proactively released on the Ministry of Health and Pharmac websites: https://www.health.govt.nz/information-releases/lists-of-advice-provided-to-ministers-2019-2025…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 23 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon Matt Doocey
Member for Waimakariri · National Party · Associate Minister of Health
Titles of all advice that I have received have been, or will be, proactively released on the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand websites:…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
When if at all will a new medicines strategy be released?
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Health
I am advised that the focus areas outlined in the Medicines Strategy 2015–2020 remain relevant at this time and the Ministry continues to progress work to deliver the strategic intent of the strategy.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
What proportion of diagnostic tests performed in Health New Zealand funded laboratories are submitted by private hospitals?
What is the total cost, if any, of analyzing samples from private hospitals in health new zealand contracted diagnostic laboratories?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that as these are privately owned facilities, Health New Zealand does not hold this information.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
Are 'choosing wisely' or other demand management approaches ever undertaken with private hospitals to ensure the appropriate use of publicly funded laboratory services by these hospitals?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that under the status quo, each laboratory is responsible for deciding what advice to provide to clinicians on the best use of testing. I am further advised however, that Health New Zealand, through its newly formed National…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
Does Health New Zealand pay for the analysis of samples from private hospitals in its contracted laboratories?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that all pathology referred from private hospitals is funded by Health New Zealand; a policy that has been unchanged for over 10 years.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
In which regions, districts, or health centres are Government funded vape kits available?
Answered by
Hon Casey Costello
List MP · NZ First Party · Associate Minister of Health
I am advised that government-funded vape kits procured through Health New Zealand are available in all regions.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
Which specialist assessments do and do not count towards the short waits for first specialist assessments target?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that all medical and surgical health specialties are included in ESPI 2 reporting for first specialist assessments (FSAs). I am further advised that FSAs for dental, geriatric, obstetrics, sexual health, genetics, and…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
Which interventions do and do not count towards the short waits for elective treatment target?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised there is no fixed list of interventions that are automatically included in the Government’s shorter wait times for elective treatment target. Instead, the measure is calculated using ESPI 5 data, which is determined by the…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What was the breakdown, by full-time equivalent (FTE), of roles offered to graduate registered nurses by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand in Canterbury at the end-of-year 2025 Advanced Choice of Employment recruitment round, broken down by…
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I refer the Member to the attached table.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 16 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Health
Titles of all advice that I have received have been, or will be, proactively released on the Ministry of Health and Pharmac websites: https://www.health.govt.nz/information-releases/lists-of-advice-provided-to-ministers-2019-2025…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 16 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon Matt Doocey
Member for Waimakariri · National Party · Associate Minister of Health
Titles of all advice that I have received have been, or will be, proactively released on the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand websites:…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 16 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon Casey Costello
List MP · NZ First Party · Associate Minister of Health
Titles of all advice that I have received have been, or will be, proactively released on the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand websites:…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What aides-mémoire, briefings, memos, notes, reports, or any other advice, if any, has the Minister or their Office received during the week beginning 16 February 2026, listed by agency, title and date received?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
Titles of advice that I have received that support delivering access to timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders have been, or will be, proactively released on the Ministry of Health, Health New Zealand and Pharmac websites:…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 16 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Matt Doocey
Member for Waimakariri · National Party · Associate Minister of Health
None.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 16 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon David Seymour
Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Health
None.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 16 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I took one paper titled 'Nursing Council: Appointments' to Cabinet in the week beginning 16 February 2026.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What papers, if any, did the Minister take to Cabinet during the week beginning 16 February 2026, by title and date?
Answered by
Hon Casey Costello
List MP · NZ First Party · Associate Minister of Health
As Associate Minister of Health, none.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What are all current Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand infrastructure and capital investment projects underway broken down by district and current project stage?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that providing the Member with this information would require Health New Zealand to collate thousands of lines of data. This would require a substantial manual collation exercise and divert staff from their core duties. In…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
When, if at all, will the Waikato Graduate Medical School seek stage 2 accreditation from the New Zealand and Australian Medical Councils.
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
As the Member should be aware, this matter does not sit within my responsibilities. I am advised that this is a question best put to the University of Waikato directly.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
When, if at all, will the Waikato Graduate Medical School seek stage 1 accreditation from the New Zealand and Australian Medical Councils?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
As the Member should be aware, this matter does not sit within my responsibilities. I am advised that this is a question best put to the University of Waikato directly.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What proportion of patients with renal failure in Whakatāne, if any, undergo peritoneal dialysis because there is not capacity for haemodialysis?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that 11 percent of renal failure patients in Whakatāne are undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Please note that some patients might be better served with haemodialysis from a clinical perspective but the patient would prefer to…
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
What proportion of dialysis patients in Whakatāne undergo dialysis fewer than three times per week, and for how many, if any, is this a clinically indicated arrangement?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that no dialysis patients in Whakatāne undergo dialysis fewer than three times per week.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many dialysis sessions have there been on average each month for the past five financial years at Tauranga Hospital, Waikato Hospital and Whakatāne Hospital?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that Waikato Hospital had an average of 2,083 monthly sessions of dialysis from July 2021 to January 2026; Tauranga Hospital had an average of 484 sessions, and Whakatāne Hospital had 370 sessions.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many dialysis sessions have there been on average each week for the past twelve months at Waikato Hospital?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that on average, there were 520 dialysis sessions per week at Waikato Hospital between 1 February 2025 and 31 January 2026.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many dialysis sessions have there been on average each week for the past twelve months at Tauranga Hospital?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that on average, there have been 155 diaylsis sessions per week at Tauranga Hospital in the 2025/26 financial year to date.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many dialysis sessions have there been on average each week for the past twelve months at Whakatāne Hospital?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that on average, there have been 67 dialysis sessions per week at Whakatāne Hospital the 2025/26 financial year to date.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many dialysis chairs are currently available for use in the Tauranga Hospital renal unit; and as at 30 June in each of the last five years, how many dialysis chairs were available for use in that unit?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that 14 dialysis chairs are currently available for use in the Tauranga Hospital renal unit. I am further advised there were seven dialysis chairs available as at 30 June 2021, 2022 and 2023, and 14 as at 30 June 2024 and 2025.
Asked by
Ayesha Verrall
List MP · Labour Party
(matches this search)
How many dialysis chairs are currently available for use in the Whakatāne Hospital renal unit; and as at 30 June in each of the last five years, how many dialysis chairs were available for use in that unit?
Answered by
Hon Simeon Brown
Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health
I am advised that six dialysis chairs are currently available for use in the Whakatāne Hospital renal unit. I am further advised that there were six dialysis chairs as at 30 June for each of the last five years.