10193 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

10193 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What has been the total spend on Health NZ’s turnaround team in the 2024/25 financial year so far?

Hon Simeon Brown: Our Government is focused on delivering timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders. As the Member will be aware, the ‘turnaround team’ was a temporary group established to provide advice on financial controls, finance, accounting processes, and cost structures. I am advised this team comprised a small number of independent subject matter experts with specific technical expertise and experience. Their independent advice was sought as Health New Zealand began addressing significant budget overruns and cash flow issues. The recently published Deloitte report, Health NZ Financial Management Review, identified the organisation’s previous failure to recognise and respond to a disconnect between expenditure and revenue as the primary cause of its financial mismanagement: https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/HNZ-Financial-Review-Report.pdf I am further advised that disclosing the total cost of these advisors would not be in the public interest, as their small number means doing so could unfairly prejudice their commercial position.