60202 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

60202 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress, if any, was made in the quarter April to June 2024 to ‘Reduce HIV transmission and ensure people maintain treatment’ under Outcome 3: New Zealanders have fewer cancers, as part of the New Zealand Cancer Action Plan 2019 – 2029?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: The Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand continue to work together to implement the HIV Action Plan published in 2023. Specifically in the quarter April to June 2024, the following activities were progressed: • There continued to be a strong focus on connecting with Hauora Māori Partners, refugee migrants and asylum seeker groups, needle exchange services and sex workers to support these communities to be able to deliver future HIV testing. • Funding continued for community-based providers. This has enabled the delivery of testing to be scaled up and delivered in a range of venues, such as outreach services, weekly nurse led clinics, testing at sex on site venues and university venues. • A working group, primarily involving people living with HIV representing the priority population groups, is continuing to develop an HIV campaign to challenge stigma and discrimination. • The HIV Monitoring Plan was published in June 2024. This plan was developed to support the goals and targets of the HIV Action Plan.