22130 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Health

22130 (2025). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Health: What government resources, if any, have been spent in the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, on a pay equity claim that will be halted, if any?

Hon Simeon Brown: As the Member will be aware, the Government is not cutting women’s pay. The right to equal pay remains as it ever was. It is protected in law and will always be under this Government. I am advised that the Ministry has not spent any such funds. I am further advised that Health New Zealand has engaged some expert advice to support pay equity work, with an estimated cost of around $185,000 since 1 July 2022. In addition, a small number of staff have supported this work as part of their wider roles, but their time is not tracked separately. As pay equity settlements are still anticipated under the Government’s new laws, it would not be a fair representation to suggest that this work has been wasted.