13974 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

13974 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What volumes, if any, has Health NZ planned for in the delivery of publicly funded elective surgical services that are provided by third parties in the 2026/27 financial year?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that planning for 2026/27 is underway. This is part of Health New Zealand's policy of outsourcing procedures, an approach that has been used under successive governments, to support better value for money and making full use of available capacity across the health system to ensure more patients are seen and treated sooner.