Health Practitioner Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) actions against unvaccinated health practitioners
Erika Whittome made this Official Information request to Simeon Brown
Currently waiting for a response from Simeon Brown, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).
From: Erika Whittome
Dear Simeon Brown,
I have asked the Ministry of Health and the Chief Legal Advisor for information about the HPDT on actions taken against unvaccinated health practitioners here:
https://fyi.org.nz/request/25904-health-...
This information remains unanswered, so I now wish to address my request to you, the Minister of Health.
Beginning in 2021, the HPDT has had many cases where a practitioner’s “conduct” is under review for not promoting or acting in accordance with the government’s response to Covid-19 with its vaccination inducement. Section 34 of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 is clear that referal to the Professional Conduct Committees is contingent upon “ a risk of harm to the public by practising below the required standard of competence”. Some of these HPDT cases appear to be characterised as “Covid-19” and/or "misconduct" charges for not promoting covid-19 vaccination on the HPDT decisions site.
Please share:
1 . Under part 3, section 34, please share the number of cases that the HPDT has initiated on the above grounds.
2. Number of cases closed or abandoned and no further action has been taken (Stayed/struck out/withdrawn).
3. Number of cases in progress.
4. Number of cases concluded with conviction and/or professional misconduct.
5. Number of health professionals who have been fined and/or lost their practising licenses/certificates as a result of HPDT investigations.
6. The total cost in legal fees for each of the above 5 items, please include travel disbursements, witness appearance fees etc
7. Number of cases where The Evidence Act 2006 has been disregarded on the grounds that “the Tribunal may regulate its procedure in any manner it thinks fit” (para 21 of 1354/Nur22/557)
8. Number of decisions and preliminary/interlocutory decision with non-publication such as 1354/Nur22/557 which is not published on the HPDT decisions website https://www.hpdt.org.nz/Search-Decisions
9. Number of name suppression / non-publication orders people involved in all these cases.
10. Length of time for these decisions/interlocutories to be published
11. In the most recent financial year, what is the cost to the Ministry of Health for the operation of all the Professional Conduct Committees in the health industry?
12. Would you please share the most recent audit report on the HPDT ?
13 The number of complaints to the Health Integrity Line about the HPDT from 2021 to date?
Yours faithfully,
Erika Whittome
From: Simeon Brown (MIN)
Simeon Brown
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From: Simeon Brown (MIN)
Simeon Brown
Dear Erika,
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 6th August 2025, in which you requested the following information:
"1 . Under part 3, section 34, please share the number of cases that the HPDT has initiated on the above grounds.
2. Number of cases closed or abandoned and no further action has been taken (Stayed/struck out/withdrawn).
3. Number of cases in progress.
4. Number of cases concluded with conviction and/or professional misconduct.
5. Number of health professionals who have been fined and/or lost their practising licenses/certificates as a result of HPDT investigations.
6. The total cost in legal fees for each of the above 5 items, please include travel disbursements, witness appearance fees etc
7. Number of cases where The Evidence Act 2006 has been disregarded on the grounds that "the Tribunal may regulate its procedure in any manner it thinks fit" (para 21 of 1354/Nur22/557)
8. Number of decisions and preliminary/interlocutory decision with non-publication such as 1354/Nur22/557 which is not published on the HPDT decisions website https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....
9. Number of name suppression / non-publication orders people involved in all these cases.
10. Length of time for these decisions/interlocutories to be published
11. In the most recent financial year, what is the cost to the Ministry of Health for the operation of all the Professional Conduct Committees in the health industry?
12. Would you please share the most recent audit report on the HPDT ?
13 The number of complaints to the Health Integrity Line about the HPDT from 2021 to date?"
Your request will be answered within the provisions of the Official Information Act.
Kind regards,
Office of Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Health, Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Minister for Auckland
Email: [email address]
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
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