10289 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

10289 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter October – December 2023 to ‘Implement programmes to grow the numbers and diversity of the health workforce, including Māori, Pacific and Tāngata whaikaha | Disabled people, to meet demand by addressing critical workforce gaps as identified by the workforce taskforce’ under section 1.2 ‘Strengthening workforce whānau’ within Te Whatu Ora’s Te Pae Tata: Interim New Zealand Health Plan 2022?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that during the October – December 2023 quarter, progress was made with the Health Workforce Plan, taking a whole of system approach, with unions, employers, responsible authorities and tertiary providers working together for workforce planning and development. Highlights from the quarter include: • 17 Māori and four Pacific trainees accepted onto NPTP course (both up 4 from the last intake). • $1.55m investment in scholarships, with 220 awarded. • $1.4m investment in Te Rau Puawai to increase the Māori mental health workforce. • Recruitment of 171 nurses. • Relaunch of Midwifery Return to Practice fund. I also refer the Member to the response to the following WPQ 2069 (2024) and 2087 (2024).