45353 (2025). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Minister of Health

45353 (2025). Debbie Ngarewa-Packer to the Minister of Health: How many Māori patients, if any, have died or had critical deteriorations while waiting for elective surgery in the past 12 months?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that providing the Member with this specific retrospective information would require Health New Zealand to undertake a substantial manual collation exercise by reviewing thousands of patient files, and divert staff from their core duties. I consider that the time and expense of answering the Member’s question is not in the public interest.