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Showing 2051 to 2100 of 2203 written question sets.

Answered

Question 3753 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many graduate positions, if any, were there in the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, between November 2024 and November 2025?

Answered by

Hon David Seymour

Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that there were no graduate positions at Pharmac for the time period specified.

Answered

Question 3838 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has the Minister or their staff had any discussions with any officials who planned to charge for replying to Official Information Act requests and if so, what advice, if any, did they provide those officials?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

No.

Answered

Question 3842 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    In what circumstances would it be appropriate to charge for replying to Official Information Act requests made to their office, or agencies for which the Minister is responsible?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

Section 15 of the Official Information Act 1982 sets out the circumstances when it is appropriate for an agency or ministerial office to charge for the supply of official information. My office, and agencies for which I am responsible for,…

Answered

Question 3845 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    On how many occasions, if any, during the 2025 calendar year did each agency for which the Minister has responsibility charge someone for providing information under the Official Information Act and for each instance what was the amount…

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that there were no instances during the 2025 calendar year where the Ministry of Health or Health New Zealand charged a requestor and received a fee for the supply of information under the Official Information Act 1982.

Answered

Question 3851 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    On how many occasions, if any, during the 2025 calendar year did each agency for which the Minister has responsibility suggest to a requestor that a fee would be charged for providing information requested under the Official Information…

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that there were three requests during 2025 where a potential charge for the supply of information under the Official Information Act 1982 was notified to the requestor by the Ministry of Health. I refer the Member to the…

Answered

Question 3895 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many graduate positions, if any, were there in the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, between November 2024 and November 2025?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised the Ministry of Health did not have any graduate positions within its establishment structure for the period November 2024 to November 2025. I am further advised by Health New Zealand that the information requested for this…

Answered

Question 3509 (2026)

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Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to 458 (2026), how many total claims for historic abuse have been received by the Ministry of Health or Crown Health Financing Agency since the service's establishment?

Answered by

Hon Matt Doocey

Member for Waimakariri · National Party · Associate Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised the Ministry of Health has identified that 542 total claims have been received since the service’s establishment, and 336 claims were received by the Crown Health Financing Agency prior to the service’s establishment.

Answered

Question 3511 (2026)

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Asked by

Willow-Jean Prime

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Further to 1294 (2026), what is the time period of the contracts for the two additional fixed term staff employed?

Answered by

Hon Matt Doocey

Member for Waimakariri · National Party · Associate Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the two additional fixed term staff contracts are for 21 months, until 30 June 2027.

Answered

Question 3523 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What is the process, if any, for triaging children who present to the ED in Palmerston North Hospital?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that children presenting to the emergency department at Palmerston North Hospital are triaged on arrival by an experienced nurse to determine their acuity prior to registration. High acuity children are prioritised immediately.

Answered

Question 3524 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How does the process for triaging ED patients, if any, differ between adults and children in the ED at Palmerston North Hospital?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the triage process for adults and children in the emergency department at Palmerston North Hospital follows the same overall approach. The main difference is that paediatric clinical documentation and observation tools…

Answered

Question 3525 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What is the purpose of the area, if any, designated as the Children’s ED in Palmerston North Hospital?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the purpose of the children's emergency department is to provide a calm, safe environment for children and their family. This helps clinicians focus on the unique needs of children, while the environment also helps the…

Answered

Question 3526 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What physical space, if any, is used to calculate the area designated as the Children’s ED in Palmerston North Hospital?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the children's emergency department at Palmerston North Hospital is a separate space to the main ED that is set aside specifically for paediatric assessment and treatment.

Answered

Question 3527 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What steps have been taken by MidCentral, if any, to address 48.5% achieved towards the Health Target “95% of patients to be admitted, discharged or transferred from an emergency department within 6 hours “ during July to September 2025?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that MidCentral has implemented a range of actions to improve performance against the six hour emergency department health target. These actions include increasing nursing staff in the emergency department; progressing…

Answered

Question 3528 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many days, if any, was the Children’s ED open in Palmerston North Hospital during the period 1 January 2026 to 31 January 2026?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the children’s emergency department in Palmerston North Hospital was open and operating 24 hours a day, every day in January 2026.

Answered

Question 3529 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What facilities, if any, are in place at Palmerston North Hospital to provide a whānau focused, child friendly area for children presenting to the hospital’s emergency department?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the children’s emergency department at Palmerston North Hospital provides child friendly facilities including a children’s area waiting room, separate to the main waiting area. Once children are triaged they are brought…

Answered

3193, 3288 (2026)

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Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

Questions

  • 3193 (matches this search)

    How many gastroenterologists, if any, were employed by Palmerston North Hospital as at 1 January 2026, to provide gastroenterology services at Palmerston North Hospital?

  • 3288 (matches this search)

    How many MidCentral FTE gastroenterologists, if any, were employed at Palmerston North Hospital as at 1 January 2026 to provide gastroenterology services at Palmerston North Hospital?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that as at 1 January 2026, Health New Zealand had four gastroenterologists working 3.6 FTE at Palmerston North Hospital.

Answered

Question 3256 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has Health New Zealand provided any interim advice, briefings, or progress updates to the Minister or Associate Ministers on the Central Lakes clinical services planning process; if so, on what dates and in what form?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

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:…

Answered

3257, 3258 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 3257 (matches this search)

    What stage, if any, has the Central Lakes clinical services planning process reached as of 4 February 2026?

  • 3258 (matches this search)

    What key milestones, if any, have been completed to date in the Central Lakes clinical services planning process, and on what dates were they completed?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that a draft Central Lakes clinical services planning document is currently under consideration.

Answered

Question 3316 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend on the carbon neutral government programme in the 2025 calendar year?

Answered by

Hon David Seymour

Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised by Pharmac that the information requested is reported at the end of each financial year. I refer the Member to my response to Written Parliamentary Question 40491 (2025) for Pharmac's spend on the carbon neutral government…

Answered

3317, 3321 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Questions

  • 3317 (matches this search)

    How much, if any, have the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, budgeted for the carbon neutral government programme for the 2026 calendar year?

  • 3321 (matches this search)

    How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, budget for the carbon neutral government programme in the 2025 calendar year?

Answered by

Hon David Seymour

Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that Pharmac has not specifically budgeted for the Carbon Neutral Government Programme. These costs are met from its baseline budget, and this will be the same for the next financial year. The only foreseeable cost will be the…

Answered

Question 3409 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, spend on the carbon neutral government programme in the 2025 calendar year?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP) places a number of formal requirements on Health New Zealand and the Ministry of Health. These include annual emissions reporting, third‑party assurance, emissions‑reduction…

Answered

Question 3411 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if any, have the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, budgeted for the carbon neutral government programme for the 2026 calendar year?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Health does not specifically budget for the Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP). These costs are met from the Ministry's baseline budget. I am further advised that for financial year 2025/26, Health…

Answered

Question 3413 (2026)

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Asked by

Francisco Hernandez

List MP · Green Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How much, if any, did the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, budget for the carbon neutral government programme in the 2025 calendar year?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Health does not specifically budget for the Carbon Neutral Government Programme (CNGP). These costs are met from the Ministry's baseline budget. I am further advised that for financial year 2024/25 Health…

Answered

16 questions (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

Matching question numbers: 2247 (2026), 2248 (2026), 2614 (2026), 2615 (2026), 2616 (2026), 2617 (2026), 2618 (2026), 2619 (2026), 2972 (2026), 2973 (2026), 2976 (2026), 2978 (2026)

  • 2240 (matches this search)

    How many cases of workplace bullying were referred to external investigators, mediators, the Employment Relations Authority, or other external bodies in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees,…

  • 2243 (matches this search)

    How many individuals were dismissed, required to resign, or had their engagement terminated following findings of workplace bullying in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office…

  • 2244 (matches this search)

    What was the total value of financial settlements, compensation payments, or ex gratia payments relating to workplace bullying in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders…

  • 2245 (matches this search)

    How many individuals received formal disciplinary sanctions short of dismissal or termination following findings of workplace bullying in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office…

Show the remaining 12 questions
  • 2247 (matches this search)

    What employment or engagement outcomes resulted from recorded incidences of workplace bullying in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has…

  • 2248 (matches this search)

    How many cases of workplace bullying resulted in financial settlements, compensation payments, or ex gratia payments in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom…

  • 2614 (matches this search)

    How many cases of sexual harassment were referred to external investigators, mediators, the Police, or other external authorities in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office…

  • 2615 (matches this search)

    What categories of workplace bullying allegations have been recorded in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has responsibility in connection…

  • 2616 (matches this search)

    How many individuals received formal disciplinary sanctions short of dismissal or termination following findings of sexual harassment in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office…

  • 2617 (matches this search)

    How many recorded incidences of workplace bullying, if any, have occurred in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has responsibility in…

  • 2618 (matches this search)

    What was the total value of financial settlements, compensation payments, or ex gratia payments relating to sexual harassment in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders…

  • 2619 (matches this search)

    How many cases of sexual harassment resulted in financial settlements, compensation payments, or ex gratia payments in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom…

  • 2972 (matches this search)

    How many individuals were dismissed, required to resign, or had their engagement terminated following findings of sexual harassment in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office…

  • 2973 (matches this search)

    What categories of sexual harassment allegations have been recorded in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has responsibility in connection with…

  • 2976 (matches this search)

    What employment or engagement outcomes resulted from recorded incidences of sexual harassment in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has…

  • 2978 (matches this search)

    How many recorded incidences of sexual harassment, if any, have occurred in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has responsibility in connection…

Answered by

Hon David Seymour

Member for Epsom · ACT Party · Associate Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised by Pharmac that the information requested for this period is not centrally held and would require a substantial manual collation exercise and divert staff from their core duties. In accordance with Speaker’s Ruling 210-6, I…

Answered

14 questions (2026)

Questions published
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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

Matching question numbers: 2439 (2026), 2800 (2026), 2807 (2026), 2809 (2026), 2810 (2026), 2811 (2026), 3151 (2026), 3153 (2026), 3154 (2026), 3157 (2026)

  • 2434 (matches this search)

    How many cases of workplace bullying were referred to external investigators, mediators, the Employment Relations Authority, or other external bodies in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees,…

  • 2436 (matches this search)

    What employment or engagement outcomes resulted from recorded incidences of workplace bullying in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has…

  • 2437 (matches this search)

    How many individuals were dismissed, required to resign, or had their engagement terminated following findings of workplace bullying in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office…

  • 2438 (matches this search)

    How many individuals received formal disciplinary sanctions short of dismissal or termination following findings of workplace bullying in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office…

Show the remaining 10 questions
  • 2439 (matches this search)

    What was the total value of financial settlements, compensation payments, or ex gratia payments relating to workplace bullying in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders…

  • 2800 (matches this search)

    How many individuals received formal disciplinary sanctions short of dismissal or termination following findings of sexual harassment in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office…

  • 2807 (matches this search)

    How many cases of sexual harassment were referred to external investigators, mediators, the Police, or other external authorities in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office…

  • 2809 (matches this search)

    How many recorded incidences of workplace bullying, if any, have occurred in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has responsibility in…

  • 2810 (matches this search)

    What was the total value of financial settlements, compensation payments, or ex gratia payments relating to sexual harassment in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders…

  • 2811 (matches this search)

    What categories of workplace bullying allegations have been recorded in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has responsibility in connection…

  • 3151 (matches this search)

    What categories of sexual harassment allegations have been recorded in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has responsibility in connection with…

  • 3153 (matches this search)

    What employment or engagement outcomes resulted from recorded incidences of sexual harassment in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has…

  • 3154 (matches this search)

    How many individuals were dismissed, required to resign, or had their engagement terminated following findings of sexual harassment in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office…

  • 3157 (matches this search)

    How many recorded incidences of sexual harassment, if any, have occurred in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom the Minister has responsibility in connection…

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand that the information requested for this period is not available in an easily reportable format and would require a substantial manual collation exercise and divert staff from…

Answered

2435, 2814 (2026)

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Asked by

Camilla Belich

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 2435 (matches this search)

    How many cases of workplace bullying resulted in financial settlements, compensation payments, or ex gratia payments in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom…

  • 2814 (matches this search)

    How many cases of sexual harassment resulted in financial settlements, compensation payments, or ex gratia payments in each calendar year since 2015 in relation to any staff, employees, secondees, contractors, or office holders for whom…

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised by the Ministry of Health that the information requested for this period is not available in an easily reportable format and would require a substantial manual collation exercise and divert staff from their core duties. In…

Answered

Question 3012 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many applicants have accepted and formally commenced placements in the West Coast's rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme, if any?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that ten applications were received; all 10 were accepted and will formally commence placements in the West Coast's rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme in 2026.

Answered

Question 3013 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many applicants to the West Coast's rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme were offered placements to date, if any?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I refer the Member to Written Parliament Question 3012 (2026).

Answered

Question 3019 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many expressions of interest, if any, have been received to date for the West Coast rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised there is no formal expression of interest process for the West Coast Rural Hospital Medicine or specialist GP training programmes. Recruitment occurs through the national annual recruitment cycle, where registrars apply for…

Answered

Question 3021 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What retention targets, if any, have been set for trainees completing the rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme, and how, if at all, will retention be measured and reported?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that there are no specific retention targets set for trainees completing the rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme. However, retention remains a key focus for this Government as we continue to strengthen…

Answered

Question 3027 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many registrars are expected to be placed on the West Coast in 2026 under the newly coordinated rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme, and how many of these, if any, are additional to existing training placements?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I refer the Member to Written Parliamentary Question 3012 (2026). I am advised that they are an expansion of the existing cohort.

Answered

Question 3028 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many doctors, if any, who completed rural hospital medicine or specialist GP training on the West Coast in the past ten years are still practising on the West Coast?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that of the current rural generalist and specialist general practice cohort working in Greymouth, South Westland and Buller, 15 completed rural hospital medicine or specialist GP training on the West Coast.

Answered

Question 3034 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    What new funding, if any, has been allocated specifically for the newly coordinated rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that Health New Zealand utilised existing capacity within the Christchurch resident doctors support unit for the newly coordinated rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme.

Answered

Question 3037 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many, if any, of the eight to ten registrars announced for the West Coast in 2026 are additional placements?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I refer the Member to Written Parliamentary Question 3027 (2026).

Answered

Question 3040 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    How many rural hospital medicine registrars and specialist GP registrars were training on the West Coast in each of the past five years, broken down by year?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that this information is held in individual employee files and therefore providing the Member with this information would require Health New Zealand to undertake a substantial manual collation exercise and divert staff from…

Answered

Question 3045 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Will Te Whatu Ora undertake any reviews of IT outages this year and if so, what incidents will they review?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that Health New Zealand's standard process is that all major IT outage incidents undergo a review. The major IT outage incidents in January 2026 are currently under review. I am further advised that while current evidence…

Answered

Question 3047 (2026)

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Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • (matches this search)

    Has the Minister had any debriefs about any Te Whatu Ora IT outages this year and if so, what incidents was he debriefed on and on what dates?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised about major IT outage incidents as they occur, which is Heath New Zealand's standard protocol. I have not received such advice on major IT outage incidents so far this year, as reviews are still underway.

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Question 3052 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    Will Te Whatu Ora publish findings from any reviews or debriefs into hospital IT outages occurring in 2026, and if not, why not?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that IT outage incident reviews are not intended for publication. They contain free and frank advice to internal oversight groups, and making information public about potential network risks could be useful to cyber criminals.…

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Question 3060 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    Has the Minister requested any reviews, reports, or root-cause analyses into the January 2026 IT outage affecting Southern hospitals?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

Health New Zealand has advised that their standard approach following any outage is to undertake reviews and root-cause analyses. I am also advised that this is underway, with corrective actions to be implemented where recommended.…

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Question 3065 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    What contractual or funding mechanisms exist at Te Whatu Ora, if any, to require exterior commercial datacentre providers to meet minimum resilience and redundancy standards, and what penalties apply, if any, if those standards are not met?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the majority of Health New Zealand's external data centre contracts are procured from the All-of-Government panel where the conditions of certification are managed by the Department of Internal Affairs.

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Question 1880 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    What assessment, if any, has been made of the risk of single points of failure within exterior commercial datacentres relied on by hospitals, including the adequacy of backup systems and redundancy?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that Health New Zealand has a comprehensive risk management framework, which is the basis for reviewing and managing risks, mitigations and treatments including resilience, redundancy and disaster recovery. Critical services…

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Question 1881 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    Has the Minister been advised whether any exterior commercial datacentres used by hospitals contain ageing or legacy equipment comparable to that previously identified as a risk within hospital-based systems?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that Health New Zealand's 10-year Health Digital Investment Plan describes the legacy infrastructure currently in use across Health NZ and the investment required to stabilise and modernise it.

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Question 1882 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    Has the Minister requested any reviews, reports, or root-cause analyses into the January 2026 IT outage affecting Auckland hospitals, and if not, why not?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that Health New Zealand's standard approach following any outage is to undertake reviews and root-cause analyses. I am further advised that this is underway and stakeholders will be updated in due course. In addition to the…

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1883, 1887 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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  • 1883 (matches this search)

    Is any of the equipment hosted in exterior commercial datacentres used by Te Whatu Ora considered to be at end-of-life or risk of failure?

  • 1887 (matches this search)

    Has the Minister been advised whether any exterior commercial datacentres relied upon by hospitals are operating with equipment that is beyond vendor support or end-of-life, and if so, what funding has been allocated to address this risk?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the 10-year Health Digital Investment Plan describes the legacy infrastructure currently in use across Health NZ and the investment required to stabilise and modernise it.

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Question 1884 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    What steps, if any, is the Minister taking to ensure that staff experiences and patient safety risks identified during the Auckland and Southern hospital IT outages are formally incorporated into future IT stabilisation and investment…

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that Health New Zealand's standard approach following any outage is to undertake reviews and root-cause analyses to identify steps that should be taken to reduce risk and address issues. I am advised that these will be…

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Question 1885 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    Has the Minister been advised whether structured post-incident debriefs were undertaken with frontline staff following the Auckland and Southern hospital IT outages in January 2026, and if so, what risks or concerns, if any, were…

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that post-incident reviews, which are a standard operational process following an outage, include engaging with hospitals and staff to capture their assessment of the impact of outages. This is part of finalising a…

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Question 1888 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    What proportion of Health New Zealand’s digital and data expenditure is currently directed to exterior commercial datacentres, compared with in-hospital infrastructure?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the proportion of expenditure between external (e.g., cloud) and internal (e.g., on-premise computer rooms) infrastructure is a ratio of approximately 2:1.

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Question 1889 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    What funding, if any, has been approved for exterior commercial datacentres used by public hospitals in the 2025/26 financial year, broken down by provider and purpose?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that the total expenditure on external commercial data centres is budgeted at circa $60m per annum for FY25/26. I am further advised by Health New Zealand that commercial sensitivities prevent a detailed breakdown of…

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Question 1890 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    Has the Minister been provided with a consolidated inventory or register of datacentres used by Health New Zealand, and if so, when was it last updated?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

No, I have not been provided with a consolidated inventory or register of datacentres used by Health New Zealand. This is an operational matter.

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Question 1891 (2026)

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Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

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    Which datacentres used by Health New Zealand contain single points of failure for hospital clinical systems, if any, and what steps, if any, are being taken to eliminate them?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that Health New Zealand's design of its digital infrastructure, supporting critical clinical and business systems in data centres, is not intended to have single points of failure.