33122 (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:	33122 (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_33122_2026
Document guid:	4d49f59a-e6da-4236-852c-c3e609c7814c

33122 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: How many funded locum days were used by rural LMC midwives, broken down by district for each financial year since 2018/29?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that the number of funded rural locum days used by lead maternity carers (LMCs) was 3,442 days in the 2022/23 financial year; 3,993 days in the 2023/24 financial year, and 4,104 days in the 2024/25 financial year. I am further advised that Health NZ has only collected this data at a national level since 2022 and is unable to provide a more detailed breakdown.