33119 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

Written Question

Published date: 06 Aug 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	33119 (2026)
Question asked:	22 Jul 2026
Member asking:	Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Portfolio:	Associate Minister of Health
Minister replying:	Hon Casey Costello
Answer received:	30 Jul 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_33119_2026
Document guid:	e09d9cab-ce76-40a8-acfb-f42c7a38788e

33119 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: Has any locum support or rural sustainability funding for rural LMC midwives been reduced or withdrawn in the Waikato district since 1 January 2025, if so, for how many midwives, and what reason was given?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that a temporary locum support arrangement, which provided two midwives -- each working 48 hours per month -- to assist Lead Maternity Carers in the Coromandel area, ended on 30 June 2026. I am further advised the arrangement ceased as it had reached the end of its agreed term.