17314 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

17314 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What is the current vacancy rate in the Health Payment Integrity Team, and how many roles have gone unfilled since its restructure began?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised the current vacancy rate is 21 per cent, with 8 FTE vacancies. Of these there were 3 vacant FTEs at the start of the change process. I have made my expectations clear to Health New Zealand that the agency must maintain a strong focus on frontline services to ensure all New Zealanders can access timely, quality healthcare, and its change processes should prioritise reducing bureaucracy.