13972 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

13972 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Has Health NZ indicated a preparedness to enter a public private partnership of any description to facilitate the construction of additional surgical capacity in the private sector?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that Health New Zealand is prepared to partner with the private sector to expand publicly-funded elective surgical service capacity as part of their policy of outsourcing procedures. Outsourcing is an approach that has been used under successive governments to support better value for money and make full use of available capacity across the health system to ensure more patients are seen and treated sooner. Currently, no decisions to facilitate the construction of additional surgical capacity through public-private partnerships have been made. But Health New Zealand continues to welcome any proposals that will improve health outcomes for New Zealanders.