14285 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

14285 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What steps, if any, is he taking to ensure public health professionals feel able to speak up about concerns regarding government policy, and has he sought or received any legal advice regarding potential employment consequences for public health professionals who publicly express concerns about government policy?

Hon Simeon Brown: As outlined in my Health Delivery Plan Cabinet paper, I have set out a Letter of Expectations to Health New Zealand to ensure that the agency is focused on delivering access to timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders, including an expectation that the agency is focused on health service delivery and not advocacy. Our Government’s view that Health New Zealand should be a health delivery agency and not an advocacy body. In particular, the agency should not be making submissions on proposed developments or council policies, such as suggesting that councils should ban local community groups from fundraising with raffle tickets. Advice sought by myself is provided by agencies. Titles of all advice that I have received that support delivering access to timely, quality healthcare for all New Zealanders have been, or will be, proactively released on the agencies' websites: https://www.health.govt.nz/information-releases/lists-of-advice-provided-to-ministers https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/publications/ https://pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/official-information-act/list-of-ministerial-briefings