10848 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

10848 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter October – December 2023 to ‘Work with the Public Health Agency to develop and implement evidence based public health and legislative interventions that reduce harm from alcohol and other drugs’ under section 4.1 ‘Māori health improvement’ 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, Health New Zealand worked with Te Aka Whai Ora and the Public Health Agency to increase support for whānau affected by foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This included preparation for important initiatives which I announced in April, including: establishing a new, community-led FASD Pilot Programme to provide tailored support to whānau and caregivers at all stages of FASD; and a national FASD prevention campaign in October to raise awareness of the impact of FASD and supporting positive choices to minimise risk.