Total cost to the taxpayer for the Equity in Health Conference
T Barnett made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
The request was refused by Ministry of Health.
From: T Barnett
Dear Ministry of Health,
I am a New Zealand citizen and reside in New Zealand
Under the OIA, I request a copy of the following
Total cost to the taxpayer for the Equity in Health Conference in Auckland (28 - 29 Nov 2022)
Via direct or indirect (funding provided to contracted services that had staff attend eg NGO/Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora,) health funding from the minstry of health
inculding ticket cost, accommodation/transport/wages of public healthcare professionals (regulated/non regulated) that attended or spoke
Yours faithfully,
T B
From: Maori Health Authority Govt Services
Tēnā koe T Barnett,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health on 2 December 2022. Your
request was partially transferred to Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health
Authority on 7 December 2022 as the information is more closely connected
with the functions of our agency. You requested:
Total cost to the taxpayer for the Equity in Health Conference in Auckland
(28 - 29 Nov 2022) Via direct or indirect (funding provided to contracted
services that had staff attend eg NGO/Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora,)
health funding from the minstry of health including ticket cost,
accommodation/transport/wages of public healthcare professionals
(regulated/non regulated) that attended or spoke.
Your request is being processed in accordance with the Act, and we will
respond to your request no later than 25 January 2023. Please note that
days between 25 December 2022 to 15 January 2023 (inclusive) are defined
as non-working days in the Act and are not counted in the calculation for
the response due date.
If we are unable to respond to your request by 25 January 2023, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
If you have any enquiries regarding your request feel free to contact us
via email at [1][email address]. If any additional
factors come to light that are relevant to your request, please do not
hesitate to contact us so that these can be taken into account.
Nâku noa, nâ
Ministerial Services
Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority
[2][email address]
[3]www.teakawhaiora.nz
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora T Barnett,
Thank you for your request for official information received on 2 December
2022. Please find attached a letter relating to your official information
act request.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
U[2]nite against COVID-19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: T Barnett <[FOI #21311 email]>
Sent: Friday, 2 December 2022 08:37
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Total cost to the taxpayer for the
Equity in Health Conference
Dear Ministry of Health,
I am a New Zealand citizen and reside in New Zealand
Under the OIA, I request a copy of the following
Total cost to the taxpayer for the Equity in Health Conference in Auckland
(28 - 29 Nov 2022)
Via direct or indirect (funding provided to contracted services that had
staff attend eg NGO/Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora,) health funding from
the minstry of health
inculding ticket cost, accommodation/transport/wages of public healthcare
professionals (regulated/non regulated) that attended or spoke
Yours faithfully,
T B
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From: hnzOIA
Tēnā koe,
Thank you for contacting Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ. This is an automatic
reply to confirm that we have received your email. Depending on the
nature of your request you may not receive a response for up to 20 working
days. We will try to respond to your query as quickly as possible.
s information that is identified to be of general public interest, the
response may also be published on our website. If we e response to your
OIA request, all personal information, including your name and contact
details will be removed.
Ngā mihi
Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ.
show quoted sections
From: Ash Patel
Tēnā koe T Barnett
Please see attached a response to your Official Information Act request.
Nâku noa, nâ
Ministerial Services
Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority
[1]www.teakawhaiora.nz
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From: T Barnett
Dear Ash Patel,
So did the two Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority representitives (Māori Health Improvement Advisors) attend in their own time, as private individuals, at their own cost ?
Yours sincerely,
T Barnett
From: T Barnett
Dear Ministry of Health,
My previous request was transfered to - Te Aka Whai Ora
Total cost to the taxpayer for the Equity in Health Conference in Auckland (28 - 29 Nov 2022)
Via direct or indirect (funding provided to contracted services that had staff attend eg NGO/Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora,) health funding from the minstry of health
inculding ticket cost, accommodation/transport/wages of public healthcare professionals (regulated/non regulated) that attended or spoke
The response was
No cost was incurred due to the attendance of Te Aka Whai Ora representatives at the Equity in
Health Conference, which was held in Auckland on 28-29 November 2022.
This did not answer the original question
Yours faithfully,
T Barnett
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora T Barnett
Your request was transferred to Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority,
as Manatū Hauora (the Ministry of Health) does not hold information within
scope of your request.
Please feel free to contact Te Aka Whai Ora
at: [email address].
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health
M[1]inistry of Health information releases
U[2]nite against COVID-19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: T Barnett <[FYI request #21311 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 20 December 2022 09:18
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Official Information request - Total cost to the taxpayer for
the Equity in Health Conference
Dear Ministry of Health,
My previous request was transfered to - Te Aka Whai Ora
Total cost to the taxpayer for the Equity in Health Conference in Auckland
(28 - 29 Nov 2022)
Via direct or indirect (funding provided to contracted services that had
staff attend eg NGO/Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora,) health funding from
the minstry of health
inculding ticket cost, accommodation/transport/wages of public healthcare
professionals (regulated/non regulated) that attended or spoke
The response was
No cost was incurred due to the attendance of Te Aka Whai Ora
representatives at the Equity in
Health Conference, which was held in Auckland on 28-29 November 2022.
This did not answer the original question
Yours faithfully,
T Barnett
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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[FYI request #21311 email]
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the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
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From: T Barnett
Dear Ministry of Health,
So there were no costs to the taxpayer from the attendence of Associate Minister of Health ?
Yours faithfully,
T Barnett
From: Maori Health Authority Govt Services
Tçnâ koe T Barnett
Please see attached Te Aka Whai Ora’s response to your follow-up query of
20 December 2022.
Nâku noa, nâ
Ministerial Services
Ministerial Services
42-52 Willis Street - Spark Central Building, Wellington 6011
Te Aka Whai Ora – Mâori Health Authority
TeAkaWhaiOra.nz
show quoted sections
From: Lu Avia
Kia ora T Barnett
The Ministry of Health has transferred this Official Information Act
Request to the Office of Minister Sio, Associate Minister of Health.
I will be in touch when our office reopens in 2023 with a formal response
to your request for information. The OIA calculator can show you the
latest date you can expect a
response: [1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/agency-assistance/official-information-calculators.
Best wishes for the holidays
Luisa
Luisa (Lu) Avia ([2]she/her) | Health Private Secretary
Email [3][email address]
Office of Hon Aupito William Sio, Minister for Courts, Minister for
Pacific Peoples, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Associate Minister
of Education, Associate Minister of Health, Associate Minister of Justice
Parliament House G-025 | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings |
Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Reception +64 4 817 8723 | Ministerial Email [4][email address] |
Web [5]beehive.govt.nz
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: T Barnett <[6][FOI #21311 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 21 December 2022 09:02
To: OIA Requests <[7][email address]>
Subject: Re: Official Information request - Total cost to the taxpayer for
the Equity in Health Conference
Dear Ministry of Health,
So there were no costs to the taxpayer from the attendence of Associate
Minister of Health ?
Yours faithfully,
T Barnett
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[8][FOI #21311 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[9]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
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From: Lu Avia
Kia ora T Barnett
Please find attached a response to your request for Official Information
from Hon Aupito, the Associate Minister of Health.
Thank you
Lu
Luisa (Lu) Avia ([1]she/her) | Health Private Secretary
Email [2][email address]
Office of Hon Aupito William Sio, Minister for Courts, Minister for
Pacific Peoples, Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Associate Minister
of Education, Associate Minister of Health, Associate Minister of Justice
Parliament House G-025 | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings |
Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
Reception +64 4 817 8723 | Ministerial Email [3][email address] |
Web [4]beehive.govt.nz
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: T Barnett <[5][FOI #21311 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 21 December 2022 09:02
To: OIA Requests <[6][email address]>
Subject: Re: Official Information request - Total cost to the taxpayer for
the Equity in Health Conference
Dear Ministry of Health,
So there were no costs to the taxpayer from the attendence of Associate
Minister of Health ?
Yours faithfully,
T Barnett
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[7][FOI #21311 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
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5. mailto:[FOI #21311 email]
6. mailto:[email address]
7. mailto:[FOI #21311 email]
8. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
From: hnzOIA
Kia ora T Barnett
Please find attached a response regarding your request for information.
Ministerial Services
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
show quoted sections
From: T Barnett
Dear hnzOIA,
approximtaly 80 people that attended the conference, and listed their orgnistaion as Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand.
are you confirming that there was no cost to the taxpayer for their attendence, and that they travelled and attended in there own time at their own expence.
Yours sincerely,
T Barnett
From: hnzOIA
Tēnā koe,
Thank you for contacting Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ. This is an automatic
reply to confirm that we have received your email. Depending on the
nature of your request you may not receive a response for up to 20 working
days. We will try to respond to your query as quickly as possible.
s information that is identified to be of general public interest, the
response may also be published on our website. If we e response to your
OIA request, all personal information, including your name and contact
details will be removed.
Ngā mihi
Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ.
show quoted sections
From: hnzOIA
Tēnā koe T Barnett
Thank you for your email of 28 May 2023, asking for the following
information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Dear hnzOIA,
approximately 80 people that attended the conference and listed their
organisation as Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand.
are you confirming that there was no cost to the taxpayer for their
attendance, and that they travelled and attended in their own time at
their own expense.
Yours sincerely,
T Barnett
This email is to let you know that Te Whatu Ora needs more time to make a
decision on your request.
The Act requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no
later than 20 working days after the day we received your request.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit and we are
therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to respond to
your request.
This extension is needed so we can complete the consultations required for
your request. You can expect a response to your request no later than
Monday 8 May 2023.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [1][email address]
If you are not happy with this extension, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi
Ministerial Services
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz
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From: hnzOIA
Kia ora T Barnett
Thank you for your request for official information. Please find attached
our response to your request.
If you have any questions, please get in touch at
[1][email address].
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi,
Te Whatu Ora Ministerial Team
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From: T Barnett
Dear hnzOIA,
Firstly, I must express my disappointment that Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand does not possess the necessary information regarding the expenditure associated with the attendance of approximately 80 individuals from the organization at the Equity Health Conference. It is disheartening to learn that an organization of such significance and stature does not have an established system to track the allocation of funds. This lack of transparency raises concerns about accountability and oversight, particularly when senior leadership is involved in conference presentations.
Presented from Te Whatu Ora
- Rachel Haggerty
Attended from Te Whatu Ora
Rhoslyn Durham, Casey Kiernan, Kawana Clegg, Janice Kirkpatrick, Sarah Merry, Shannae Townley, Sue Osborne, Janet Hogan, Angela Watson, Gemma Askew, Kate Heberley, Zelda McCutcheon, Angela Perawiti, Karen Barnes, Maree Child, Samantha Davenport, Tania Te Wano, Wendy Diamond-Hill, Elaine McCall, Justin Moore, Karen Goymour, Lucy Weston Taylor, Emily Sorby, Sarah Martin, Eileen Hall, Rachel Court, Sharon Crowe, Gisela Leach, Kaye Cheetham, Mathew Kiore, Nancy Todd, Paul Rowe, Samantha Clark, Rachel Mills, David Gow, Hywel LLoyd, Jane Wilson, Karen Ferraccioli, Alice Street, Sharyn Wallis, Siobhan Griffiths, Kerri Green, Sally Stewart, Sarah Shanahan, Shaiju Thaikandy, Val White, Johanna Wilson, Kelly Richards, Rebecca Adams, Ryan Watene, Wendy Ravelich, Julia Braid, Bridget Wilson, Duayne Davies, Kathy Pritchard, Kwadwo Ofori-Anynam, Sarah De-Viell, Varsha Davendra, Edith Padavatan, Fakavamoeatu Lutui, Jan Tew, Kelsey Lan, Kendal Beaven, Liz Sellers, Naila Rahman, Rachel Cameron, Bryony Hunt, Charisse Gleeson-Russo, Janene Lawrence, Joe Southorn, John Penny, Dot McKeown, Elly Winslow, Judith Madsen, Kim Barsdell, Rosalind Jackson, Nathan Hood, Rachael Wharton, Rhonda Holloway, Rosalie Olding, Ruby Howden, Jenna Bradley, Joanna Peterson, Kamlesh Nand, Karen Kerrigan, Nadia Wihapi, Donna Allen, Elizabeth Ryan, Gabrielle Husband, Jasmine Walton, Shakira Camp, Charmaine Pene, Amanda Buhaets, Bridget Cooper, Cherry Curtis, Ina Graham, Sweeny Lauder, Imani Ram, Maree Pierce, Tyson Smith, Glennis Brown, Nadine Riwai.
113 Te Whatu Ora Employees - with a $2199 + GST ticket
$248,487 Ticket costs
Furthermore, I would like to bring to your attention that the response you received stating that employees may have covered the cost of attendance through personal education budgets, trusts, or their own expenses does not align with the information I have gathered. I have personally spoken with several individuals who attended the conference, and they have confirmed that they were on paid time during their participation. Additionally, their accommodation costs were covered, but not through the means mentioned in the response, such as employment agreements, trusts, or personal expenses. This discrepancy raises doubts about the accuracy and completeness of the information provided in the response.
Moreover, it is essential to consider the current health reforms in New Zealand and the expectations of increased efficiency that accompanied them. The response you received fails to demonstrate the anticipated efficiencies, particularly in relation to financial accountability and the responsible use of public funds. As citizens, we have a right to expect transparency and effective governance in the allocation and utilization of public money. The lack of clarity and oversight demonstrated in the response is concerning and warrants further scrutiny.
In light of the issues raised, I would appreciate a thorough review of the matter at hand, considering the discrepancies highlighted in this email. It is crucial that Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand takes immediate steps to ensure accurate record-keeping and transparency regarding expenditure related to conferences and events. This will not only enhance public trust but also align with the principles of good governance and accountability.
Furthermore, I would like to draw attention to the legislation in New Zealand pertaining to the use of public money. It is essential that all public organizations adhere to these regulations to maintain the integrity of the system and ensure responsible fiscal management. I strongly urge Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand to review its procedures and practices in light of these legislative requirements.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you require any further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me. I trust that you will address these concerns diligently and take appropriate action to rectify the issues identified.
Yours sincerely,
T Barnett
From: T Barnett
Dear hnzOIA,
Will I get an acknowledgement to my responce/request dated June 08, 2023
Yours sincerely,
T Barnett
From: hnzOIA
Kia Ora T Barnett
Thank you for you follow up email of 8 June 2023 below. We sincerely
apologise for the delay in getting a response to you.
In consultation with the relevant staff within Te Whatu Ora, we can
confirm there will be no further changes to our responses of 26 January
2023 and 5 May 2023 provided to you.
To reiterate, Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand understands that the
Equity Health Conference in Auckland was not sponsored or organised by Te
Toka Tumai Auckland (Auckland District). Although there were speakers from
Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand in attendance, the Equity Health
Conference (EHC) was a privately organised event. Therefore, we have no
records of costs or attendance at this event.
Te Whatu Ora employees who attended may have had the cost of attendance
met from their personal education budgets which form part of their
employment agreements, and some will have been funded through trusts,
while others may have met the cost at their own expense.
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngâ mihi,
Te Whatu Ora Ministerial Team
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
show quoted sections
From: hnzOIA
Tēnā koe,
Thank you for contacting Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ. This is an automatic
reply to confirm that we have received your email. Depending on the
nature of your request you may not receive a response for up to 20 working
days. We will try to respond to your query as quickly as possible.
Ngā mihi
Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ.
show quoted sections
From: hnzOIA
Kia ora
Please find attached our response to your request.
If you have any questions, please get in touch at
[1][email address].
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi,
Tane Griffin
Kaitohutohu Matua | Senior Advisor, Ministerial Services
Office of the Chief Executive
Te Whatu Ora Ministerial Team
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