403 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

Written Question

Published date: 26 Feb 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	403 (2026)
Question asked:	26 Jan 2026
Member asking:	Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Portfolio:	Minister of Health
Minister replying:	Hon Simeon Brown
Answer received:	22 Feb 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_00403_2026
Document guid:	32950c87-705f-4eb5-a4a5-1799e66e8411

403 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Does Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora consider the expected total number of first specialist assessments (FSA) or the full year to be sufficient to meet the FSA health target, given that Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora reports delivering 19.9 percent of the expected annual number of first specialist assessments in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that Health New Zealand is closely monitoring its outputs, and adjusting performance where needed, with the achievement of the 2025/26 milestone for the FSA health target being a core purpose of this activity.