12226 (2026). Ingrid Leary to the Minister of Health

12226 (2026). Ingrid Leary to the Minister of Health: Did Health New Zealand obtain cost quotes from Waikato Times, for the three full page advertisements, placed in the Friday 27 March print edition of Waikato Times, ahead of placing the advertisements; if not, on what procurement basis were these advertisements justified?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that after years of mismanagement, wait times are reducing under this Government. Clear improvements are being delivered across all five Government health targets, with the quarterly results for October to December 2025 showing year‑on‑year gains and more Kiwis accessing care sooner This is being driven by putting patients and refocusing our health system around clear health targets. That’s because we know that improving health targets improves national health outcomes. These advertisements are designed to show the public that progress is being made after years of sustained decline between 2019 and 2023. Health target advertisements are published quarterly to update the public on Health New Zealand’s progress towards achieving health targets to achieve better health outcomes for all New Zealanders. Advertisements were published in the New Zealand Herald, The Post, The Press, The Waikato Times, and The Otago Daily Times and are not part of a broader governmental campaign. The advertisements’ design was produced by Health New Zealand staff as part of their routine duties and the next quarterly advertisements are due to run in June 2026. Health New Zealand advises that they obtained quotes for the three full page advertisements placed in the Friday 27 March print edition of the newspapers. Health New Zealand requested the costs from its media agency in January 2026. I am further advised that the cost for the full-page advertisements is the Newspaper Publishers Association package rate, which offers a 50% discount, which is more economical than the typical government discount of 30 to 45% off ratecard prices. The three full page Health New Zealand advertisements were funded from Health NZ's 'Communications and Engagement' budget line. Cost by newspaper is broken down below. I note that this is significantly less than was spent by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency on the Road to Zero campaign in 2021/22 and 2022/23 FYs when at least $62,156,834 was spent on promotional and education campaigns. Waikato Times: I am advised that the total cost of the three advertisements in The Waikato Times was $6,393.60, excluding GST, and the individual cost of three advertisements was $2,131.20, excluding GST. The Post: I am advised that the total cost of the three advertisements in The Post was $6,998.40, excluding GST, and the individual cost of each of the three advertisements was $2,332.80, excluding GST. New Zealand Herald: I am advised that the total cost of the three advertisements in the New Zealand Herald was $17,844.60, excluding GST, and that the individual cost of each of the three advertisements was $5,948.20, excluding GST.