79611 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

79611 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Is it correct that Health New Zealand's data and digital programme 'Iwi Maori Partnership Boards (NZ 10513)' will be cancelled or deferred, if so, what advice, if any, informed that decision, listed by title and date?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I am advised that as part of the capital planning process for 2024/25, Health New Zealand is carrying out a prioritisation exercise to identify activities that could be stopped or deferred due to being a lower priority or having poor cost/benefit ratios, to ensure that funded activities were aligned with objectives and imperatives. I am further advised that risk assessments are carried out for all activities with potential for being stopped or deferred, with clinical risk and the operational impact on critical services being primary considerations. I am also assured by Health NZ that stop/defer decisions do not introduce new clinical risks.