12342 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

12342 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: How, if at all, will fuel be prioritised for ambulance services in the National Fuel Plan’s phases 2, 3 and 4?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that Health New Zealand is actively assessing implications of each Fuel Response Plan 2026 escalation level, and work is underway to define how service prioritisation, workforce movement, and operational activity would be managed under different fuel constraint scenarios. I am further advised that patient transfer ambulance services are defined as critical customers in the Fuel Response Plan 2026, with the right to access priority fuel supply at nominated sites for the purpose of continuing essential functions.