7405 (2026). Hūhana Lyndon to the Minister of Health

7405 (2026). Hūhana Lyndon to the Minister of Health: How many referrals for first specialist appointments have been declined since 2018, broken down by year?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that this information is held in individual patient 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 their core duties. In accordance with Speaker’s Ruling 210-6, I consider that the time, and hence the expense, of answering the Member’s question is not in the public interest.