20442 (2026). Ingrid Leary to the Minister of Health

20442 (2026). Ingrid Leary to the Minister of Health: Have any Health New Zealand districts within the Central Region, including Hawke’s Bay, Midcentral, Whanganui, or Wairarapa, been directed to meet savings targets through vacancy management or delayed recruitment; if so, what instructions or targets were provided to those districts?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that each of the districts in the Central Region has a budget and process for recruitment that ensures available funding is used effectively and efficiently for the recruitment of staff, prioritising clinical roles and critical care areas with regional oversight to ensure targeted recruitment.