7409 (2026). Hūhana Lyndon to the Minister of Health

7409 (2026). Hūhana Lyndon to the Minister of Health: How much leave, if any, is owed to senior doctors and dentists by Te Whatū Ora, in days and in dollar value?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that Health New Zealand records annual leave in weeks and therefore cannot provide the requested information in days. However, as at the end of February 2026, the total annual leave balance for Senior Medical Officers and Senior Dentists is 60,071.35 weeks, with an estimated value of $357,689,387.96. I am further advised that a large part of the leave balances held by SMOs is legacy leave that in many cases has been built up over a long period time under the former District Health Board system. Managers of staff who have high leave balances are expected to work with those individuals to put in place a leave management plan that supports the staff member to take leave. I am also advised that SMOs are entitled to other leave types in addition to their six weeks of annual leave, and many use their other leave types before taking annual leave. For example, SMOs are entitled to two weeks’ Continuing Medical Education leave plus reasonable travelling time, and two weeks long service leave after each 10 years’ service.