22 December 2022
Ref Number: MHA8379
T Barnett
[FYI request #21311 email]
Tēnā koe T Barnett
Follow-up query to official information request for Equity in Health Conference costs
Thank you for your follow-up query in relation to our response to your official information
request. Your official information request, which was transferred to Te Aka Whai Ora on 8
December 2022, was:
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 e.g., NGO/Te Whatu Ora, Te Aka Whai Ora,) health funding from the Ministry
of Health including ticket cost, accommodation/transport/wages of public healthcare
professionals (regulated/non-regulated) that attended or spoke.
Te Aka Whai Ora responded to your request on 13 December 2022, stating no cost was
incurred due to the attendance of Te Aka Whai Ora representatives at the Equity in Health
Conference.
In your follow-up query dated 20 December 2022, you asked “So did the two Te Aka Whai
Ora – Māori Health Authority representatives (Māori Health Improvement Advisors) attend in
their own time, as private individuals, at their own cost?”
Both Dr Mataroria Lyndon (Board Member, Te Aka Whai Ora) and Nigel Chee (Interim
Deputy Chief Executive Strategy and Transformation, Te Aka Whai Ora) were invited to
speak at the Equity in Health Conference in their capacity as Te Aka Whai Ora
representatives.
Dr Lyndon did not incur any costs that were charged to Te Aka Whai Ora. Dr Lyndon
receives a fee as member of the Board of Te Aka Whai Ora. He does not receive additional
payments for attendance at conferences or events. If Dr Lyndon incurred costs for his
attendance, he paid for them personally.
Mr Chee is contracted to Te Aka Whai Ora. Mr Chee has clarified that an estimated
maximum of $125 was charged to Te Aka Whai Ora for the time involved in his attendance
to speak at the conference. There were no other costs, such as relating to travel and
accommodation, for his attendance as a speaker.
We apologise for not having this information to inform our response to your original request,
or subsequently so that we could pre-emptively provide a revised response.
Accordingly, Te Aka Whai Ora and, therefore, the taxpayer, incurred approximately $125
due to the attendance of Te Aka Whai Ora representatives at the Equity in Health
Conference.
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If you wish to discuss this follow-up response with us, please feel free to contact Te Aka
Whai Ora Ministerial Services ([email address]).
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman if you are not
satisfied with this response. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Nāku noa, nā
Juanita Te Kani
Deputy Chief Executive, Strategy and Policy
Te Aka Whai Ora
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