7910 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

7910 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: How many staff in the ministries, agencies, and/or departments for which the Minister is responsible have, since 27 November 2023, been made redundant and subsequently been rehired as a consultant or contractor, and what was the total cost of engaging those consultants or contractors?

Hon Simeon Brown: Our Government is focused on delivering timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders. I am advised that as at 28 February 2025, the Ministry had not rehired any such staff. I am further advised that providing this information for Health New Zealand would require the agency to undertake a significant manual collation exercise, diverting staff from essential services. As per Speaker’s Ruling 185-6, the time and cost involved in answering this question are not justified in the public interest.