H2024053437 Response Letter.pdf

133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
21 October 2024

John Luke

By email:  [FYI request #28689 email]
Ref:
H2024053437

Tēnā koe John

Response to your request for official information

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) which was
transferred from the Office of the Minister of Health, Hon Dr Shane Reti to the Ministry of Health
– Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 9 October 2024. Please find a response to each part of your
request below.

I noted, you have recently call for nomination for your Appointments to the Public Health
Advisory Committee: https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2024-go5055. May I ask how you
called for public nomination and on what platform you have call for public nominations e.g.
govt.jobs website.

The roles on the Public Health Advisory Committee (the Commit ee) were publicly advertised on
the Ministry’s Careers webpage and the New Zealand Government Jobs website from 20 May
2024 to 3 June 2024.   

how many applications you have received from the public and how many you have received
from other nominating agencies such as TPK or Ministry of women etc for your role.

The Ministry received 34 applications from the public. Nominations were also sought from the
Hauora Māori Advisory Commit ee and caucus and coalition party leaders. One nomination was
received from the ACT Party.

How many you have shortlisted and how many you have interviewed. The bio you held for
the appointed member.

Six candidates were shortlisted. Of these, two were interviewed. The biographies of the two
appointees can be found in Document 3.

Also, may I also seek a copy of the ad went out to public and the appointment letter sent to
the appointee, feel free to redact any personal information.

The Ministry has identified two documents within scope of this part of your request. Al
documents are itemised in Appendix 1 and copies of the documents are enclosed. Where
information is withheld under section 9 of the Act, I have considered the countervailing public
interest in release in making this decision and consider that it does not outweigh the need to
withhold at this time.

Two appointment letters were sent out and one of these is provided in Document 2. Any further
details about the appointees can be found in the publicly available notice on the New Zealand
Gazette: https:/ gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2024-go5055

I trust this information fulfils your request. If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with
us, including this decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team on:
[email address].

Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.

Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Manatū Hauora website at: www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-
official-information-act-requests.

Nāku noa, nā

Ross Bell 
Group Manager, Strategy, Monitoring and Engagement
Public Health Agency | Te Pou Hauora Tūmatanui

Page 2 of 3

Appendix 1: List of documents for release
#  Date
Document details
Decision on release
1
20 May 2024
Advertisement for vacancies on  Released in full.
the Public Health Advisory

Committee (PHAC)
2
30 September 2024  Appointment to the Public Health  Some information withheld
Advisory Commit ee
under section 9(2)(a) of the
Act, to protect the privacy of
natural persons.
3
2024
Biographies of the Appointees to  Released in full.
the Public Health Advisory
Commit ee

Page 3 of 3

Document 1
Advertisement for vacancies on the Public Health Advisory
Committee (PHAC)

Job Description
The Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) is seeking candidates who wish to be
considered for appointment to the Public Health Advisory Committee (the PHAC).
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Kōrero mō te tūranga | About the role
The PHAC is an independent expert advisory committee established under section 93 of
the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures Act) 2022. The purpose of the PHAC is to provide the  ACT
Minister of Health and health entities with independent, public-facing, science-based
public health advice. It focuses on innovative and practical solutions, finding new ways of
doing things to address the persistent inequities in health outcomes in Aotearoa. In
performing its role it will provide advice informed by Māori and Pasifika communities,
tikanga and kawa, and diverse cultural values.
The PHAC is expected to prioritise Te Tiriti o Waitangi led and equity-based approaches,
including considering the factors underlying the health of people and communities. It
uses evidence-based approaches and their understanding of the needs of those most
INFORMATION
affected by poor health outcomes to inform its advice.
Secretariat support for the PHAC is provided by the Public Health Agency (PHA), which is
a business unit within the Ministry of Health. The PHA provides system leadership for
public health and advises the Director-General on public health matters. The PHA plays a
key role that contributes to the Ministry of Health as kaitiaki in ensuring the health and
disability sector fulfils the special relationship between Māori and the Crown under Te
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Tiriti o Waitangi.
Further information on the Committee and its current membership can be found here.
THE

Kōrero mōu | About you
Applications are sought from people with a strong community focus, who have the ability
to think creatively to provide solutions that are not constrained by traditional health and
disability sector professional bo
UNDER  undaries.
In this instance, we are particularly looking to receive applications from candidates that
can represent the perspectives of Pacific people.
Successful applicants wil  be able to demonstrate:
•  experience in applying a population health approach
•  experience in Public Health or a related field
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•  knowledge and understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Crown
obligations
•  knowledge of the role of the health and disability sector in achieving equity, and
improving health outcomes for populations that experience inequity

Document 1
We are looking to supplement the PHAC’s current skil s and expertise, which cover
expertise in epidemiology, maternity care and public health medicine.
Further information on Committee expectations and membership expertise can be found
in the Terms of Reference.

The Ministry recognises that diversity enables our Boards and Committees to be high-
performing, and is committed to delivering greater diversity to statutory boards and
ensuring they represent the diversity in New Zealand's population, including gender,
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ethnicity, age and geographic location. We encourages people from al  backgrounds,
especial y those who can reflect the needs, values, and beliefs of Māori, have an
understanding and are committed to meeting obligations of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, to apply
ACT
for these roles.

Me pēhea te tono | How to apply

Applications must be made using the Ministry of Health online Career centre by close of
business on [date to be inserted] and include:
  •  a completed declaration form [will be attached]
•  a covering letter
INFORMATION
•  a current CV.

Due diligence checks wil  be undertaken for shortlisted applicants. Your personal information
wil  be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. The Ministry may also request that
the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service conduct national security screening of you as
part of the due diligence process.
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The outcome of the recruitment process wil  be confirmed after it has been considered by
Cabinet’s Appointments and Honours Committee.
THE

Ko wai mātou | Who are we

See the Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora Board appointments webpage for more
information. If you have any questions, email [email address].
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We value diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. We
welcome applicants from al  walks of life and appreciate the richness of experience that your
point of difference could bring to the role. Please contact us if there is any support we can
provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you.

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INFORMATION
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Document 3
Appointee’s biographies to the Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC)
• Faumuina Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga has over 30 years of experience as a
medical doctor and over 20 years of experience as a public health medicine
specialist. She currently serves as the Director at the Va’a o Tautai - Centre for
Pacific Health and Professor at the Dunedin School of Medicine at the University of
Otago. Professor Sopoaga was awarded the companion of New Zealand Order of
Merit in 2022 for services to Pacific health and tertiary education. She led the
establishment of the Va’a o Tautai - Centre for Pacific Health in 2018 to support the
development of Pacific research and capacity building. Professor Sopoaga has been 1982
engaged with various Pacific community and health organisations across New
Zealand, such as the Pacific Trust Otago (Dunedin), Etu Pasifika (Christchurch),
Pacific Islands Advisory & Cultural Trust (Invercargil ), Whānau Ora/Pasifika Future,
ACT
West Fono Trust (Auckland). Her recent research projects focus on development of
Pacific students in higher education and health sciences. Her areas of research
include Pacific mental health and wellbeing, Pacific health workforce and capacity
building, Pacific health medical curriculum.
• Dr Caroline McElnay has over 30 years’ experience as a medical doctor and as a
public health medicine specialist. She currently works as a private consultant and
was the Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health from 2017 to 2022. Dr
McElnay is currently Chair of the Assessment Panel and Member of the Education
and Training Commit ee at the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine. She
INFORMATION
is also a Board member of Living Streets Aotearoa. She was previously President of
the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine and the Director of Population
Health, Health Equity Champion, and Clinical Director of Population Health at
Hawke’s Bay District Health Board. Dr McElnay was awarded the Queen’s Service
Order in 2023 for her services to public health.
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