23870 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

23870 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Does the Ministry of Health support all provisions of the draft WHO pandemic treaty, and which (if any) does it consider potentially inconsistent with New Zealand’s existing public health frameworks?

Hon Simeon Brown: As the Member will be aware, New Zealand is one of 124 countries that voted in favour of the adoption of the treaty. If and when the treaty becomes available for signature and ratification, the implications for New Zealand of matters such as analysis of the treaty, its consistency with New Zealand’s existing public health frameworks, and potential costs and benefits, would be considered through the standard Parliamentary Treaty Examination process, as per the Cabinet Manual.