5100 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Health

Written Question

Published date: 04 Mar 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	5100 (2026)
Question asked:	16 Feb 2026
Member asking:	Tangi Utikere
Portfolio:	Minister of Health
Minister replying:	Hon Simeon Brown
Answer received:	26 Feb 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_05100_2026
Document guid:	d0075445-90ef-4dd9-836c-4e39e3c0a216

5100 (2026). Tangi Utikere to the Minister of Health: How many nurses does the Minister consider acceptable to staff the current emergency department at Palmerston North Hospital?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that nursing staffing levels are set by Health New Zealand using established workforce modelling, which takes into account patient acuity, presentation volumes, skill mix requirements and safe staffing principles.