3831 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

3831 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress has been made in the last quarter (October to December 2023) to ‘Implement workforce development initiatives to grow the Māori and Pacific workforce’ under Outcome 1: New Zealanders have a system that delivers consistent and modern cancer care, as part of the New Zealand Cancer Action Plan 2019 – 2029?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that there are various initiatives in the Health Workforce Plan that focus on growing our Māori and Pacific workforce, including those who will work in cancer care. These initiatives include the Voluntary Bonding Scheme, scaling and funding Māori access to earn-as-you-learn, and modular training pathways into health careers, such as for kaiāwhina, enrolled nursing, midwifery, and allied roles.