133 Molesworth
Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
16 December 2024
John Luke
By email: [FYI request #29226 email]
Ref: H2024056201
Tēnā koe John,
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 17 November 2024 regarding appointments to the
Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs. You requested:
“May I ask how you called for public nomination and on what platform you have call for
public nominations e.g. govt.jobs website.
Also, 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. How many you have shortlisted and how many you have interviewed in
this recruitment round. 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.”
Due to a number of vacancies, the EACD Secretariat advertised for applicants to become
members of the EACD in the areas of pharmacology, toxicology and community medicine.
The advertisement was posted on the Ministry of Health careers website and circulated to a
range of relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Ministry of Māori
Development, Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora,
Medical Council of New Zealand, University of Auckland, University of Otago, Victoria
University of Wellington, Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand, Royal New Zealand
College of General Practitioners, and Institute of Environmental Science and Research.
A total of 20 applications were received. Whilst some applicants are employed by the above
listed agencies, their application was primarily considered on the basis of their expertise.
3 were shortlisted and subsequently appointed by the acting Director-General of Health (as
delegated by the Minister of Health).
All relevant 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.
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
Chris James
Group Manager Medsafe
Page 2 of 3
Appendix 1: List of documents for release
#
Date
Document details
Decision on release
1
N/A
Vacancies on the Expert
Released in full.
Advisory Committee on Drugs
2
30 August 2024
Letter: Appointment of Professor
Michelle Glass for expertise in
pharmacology and position of
chair of the EACD
3
30 August 2024
Letter: Appointment of Dr
Some information withheld
Sharon Kletchko to the EACD
under section 9(2)(a) of the
committee for expertise in
Act to protect the privacy of
community medicine
natural persons.
4
30 August 2024
Letter: Appointment of Dr Helen Released in full.
Poulsen to the EACD committee
for expertise in toxicology
Page 3 of 3
Document 1
Vacancies on the Expert Advisory
Committee on Drugs
The Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora is seeking candidates who wish to be considered for three
member roles on th
e Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (the EACD).
The role of chair wil also be available, if this would be of interest to you, please indicate so in your
application, with a short explanation why you feel you would suit this role.
The EACD was established under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 2000 to provide expert advice to
the Minister of Health regarding drug classification issues.
1982
Section 5AA(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 specifies that the functions of the EACD are:
(a) to carry out medical and scientific evaluations of controlled drugs, and any other narcotic or
THE
psychotropic substances, preparations, mixtures, or articles; and
(b) to make recommendations to the Minister about —
ACT
i.
whether and how control ed drugs or other substances, preparations, mixtures, or articles
should be classified; and
ii. the amount, level, or quantity at and over which any substance, preparation, mixture, or
article that is a control ed drug (or is proposed to be classified as a control ed drug), and
UNDER
that is to be specified or described in clause 1 of Schedule 5, is to be presumed to be for
supply; and
iii. the level at and over which control ed drugs to which clause 2 of Schedule 5 applies are
presumed to be for supply; and
(c) to increase public awareness of the Committee’s work, by (for instance) the timely release of
papers, reports, and recommendations.
Members are appointed by the Minister of Health for a term of 3 years but can be reappointed.
Generally, members will serve one or two terms.
INFORMATION
It is envisaged that the EACD wil meet at least twice a year, although more meetings may be held if
RELEASED
required. These may be held online or face-to-face. The time required by members is variable but wil
not likely exceed a few days a year.
The Ministry of Health is currently seeking applications from potential candidates with appropriate
expertise in one or more of the following areas:
• Pharmacology
• Toxicology
OFFICIAL
• Community medicine
Knowledge / expertise of the fol owing would be advantageous: control ed drugs and other narcotic or
psychotropic substances, and the classification of such substances based on the risk of harm they pose
to individuals or to society by their misuse (under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975).
Document 1
Chairperson role: it is the responsibility of the Chairperson to ensure that discussions are on topic,
within discussion time, and that al votes are accounted for. The Chairperson does not have the right of
a casting vote to break deadlocked decisions.
Applications should be sent to
[email address]. Please include ‘EACD appointment’ in the subject.
Applications close on
6 May 2024. Please provide:
• a covering letter, detailing your knowledge / expertise in the field(s) mentioned above, that is
relevant to the Committee and why the position is of interest to you
• a current curriculum vitae
• a completed declaration form (attached).
The outcome of the recruitment process wil be confirmed after it has been considered by Cabinet’s
1982
Appointments and Honours Committee.
THE
For more information on the EACD or if you have any questions about the appointment process, please
email the Committee Secretariat a
t [email address].
ACT
UNDER
INFORMATION
RELEASED
OFFICIAL
Document 2
MANATU
HAUORA
MINISTRY or HCAlTH
133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T +64 4 496 2000
Professor Michelle Glass
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
University of Otago
18 Frederick Street
Dunedin
1982
Dear Professor Glass
THE
Application to the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD)
I am pleased to inform you that your application has been successful, and I hereby appoint you
ACT
as chair of the EACD, pursuant to section SAA of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.
You have been appointed for your leadership skills as well as your expertise in pharmacology,
for a term of three years which will commence on the date of this letter.
UNDER
Please formally acknowledge your appointment by signing the attached memorandum and
returning it to: [email address].
Thank you for your willingness to serve on the EACD, I am confident that you will make a
valuable contribution.
Yours sincerely
INFORMATION
RELEASED
OFFICIAL
Document 3
s 9(2)(a)
1982
THE
ACT
UNDER
INFORMATION
RELEASED
OFFICIAL
Document 4
1982
THE
ACT
UNDER
INFORMATION
RELEASED
OFFICIAL
