46538 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

46538 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Further to his reply to Question 41109 (2025), does his reply mean that he does not know if the data used for reporting on the shorter waits for first specialist assessment target will be based on whole of year data or final quarter data and if not, which is it?

Hon Simeon Brown: I am advised that Health New Zealand's annual report for 2024/25 will include information relating to its operations and performance - including health targets, as part of our focus on putting patients first and ensuring all New Zealanders have access to timely, quality healthcare - for the whole financial year, calculated using data from the whole year. As I said in Written Parliamentary Questions 42314 (2025), 42320 (2025), 42327 (2025), 42333 (2025), 42339 (2025), and 43514 (2025), my expectation is that Health New Zealand works toward achieving each target's milestone on a quarterly basis.