Thank you for contacting the Hon Simeon Brown, Minister of Health,
Minister for State Owned Enterprises, and Minister for Auckland.

If the topic of your correspondence falls outside of the Minister's
portfolio responsibilities, expresses a personal view, or is copied to
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at [1][email address]

 

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Associate Health Ministers

Please note that all emails are read, however please do not expect a
response from this office if your email relates to the below matters as
these responsibilities are delegated to Associate Ministers of Health.

·       Hon Matt Doocey, Minister for Mental Health and Associate Minister
of Health. If your matter relates to mental health, neurodiversity,
nutrition, or rural health, you can contact Hon Doocey by
emailing [2][email address].

·       Hon Casey Costello, Associate Minister of Health. If your matter
relates to emergency services, women’s health, aged care, or smoking and
vaping, you can contact Hon Costello by
emailing [3][email address].

·       Hon David Seymour, Associate Minister of Health. If your matter
relates to Pharmac, Medsafe, or medicines funding and supply, you can
contact Hon Seymour by emailing [4][email address].

Further delegations details of Associate Ministers of Health can be
found [5]here.

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visit [6]Healthpoint.

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flu, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), Boostrix (whooping cough) on 0800
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·       You can also visit: [7]bookmyvaccine.health.nz.

·       If you or your family are not happy with public health services
received, you can [8]contact Health New Zealand.

·       If you would like to raise a complaint about a health and
disability service,  you can also [9]contact the Health and Disability
Commissioner.

 

References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-uni...
6. https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/
7. https://bookmyvaccine.health.nz/
8. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate...
9. https://www.hdc.org.nz/making-a-complain...

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #31908 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 August 2025 6:23 AM
To: Simeon Brown (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Health Practitioner Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) actions against unvaccinated health practitioners

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://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

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://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?

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #31908 email]

Is [Simeon Brown request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Simeon Brown? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
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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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

hide quoted sections

Dear Erika

Please find attached correspondence from the Office of Hon Simeon Brown, Minister of Health.

Kind regards

Reef Stewart
Ministerial Advisor | Office of Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Health
Minister for State Owned Enterprises
Minister for Auckland

Email: [email address]    Website: www.Beehive,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

-----Original Message-----
From: Simeon Brown (MIN) <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 August 2025 11:51 AM
To: Erika Whittome <[FOI #31908 email]>
Subject: SBOIA25-844 RE: Official Information request - Health Practitioner Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) actions against unvaccinated health practitioners

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

-----Original Message-----
From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #31908 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 6 August 2025 6:23 AM
To: Simeon Brown (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Health Practitioner Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) actions against unvaccinated health practitioners

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://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

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://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?

Yours faithfully,

Erika Whittome

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #31908 email]

Is [Simeon Brown request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Simeon Brown? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

hide quoted sections

Tēnākoe, 

Thank you for contacting Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. 
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

Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora.

Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message

Kia ora Erika,
 
Thank you for your request for information on 4 September 2025. 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, 
 

Michael

Government Services (OIA) 

[3][email address] 

[4]A blue and white sign AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora 

 
Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message

References

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2. file:///tmp/
3. mailto:[email address]

Kia ora Erika

 

We've made our decision on your request and complied with our obligations
under the OIA. As such we can't just transfer the request. If you believe
that this matter is more closely connected with the functions of the
Ministry, you should make the same request to it again, repeating the
arguments you've set out below. 

 

Please note, we're not trying to be difficult, but we cannot transfer a
request that we've already responded to.

 

As noted in our response, if you're not happy with the decision, you
should reach out to the Ombudsman's office.  

 
Ngā mihi

Michael Cleary (he/him) 
Principal Advisor | Kaitohutohu Aporei
Government Services 
[1][email address]  

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
 

------------------- Original Message -------------------
From: Erika Whittome <[FOI #31908 email]>; 
Received: Sun Sep 21 2025 06:52:26 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)
To: hnzOIA <[email address]>; HNZ OIA
<[email address]>; 
Subject: Re: Response to your request for information HNZ00097624
CRM:0316590

Dear hnzOIA,

Kindly transfer this back to the minister of health. The information has
not been provided nor has it been provided in any previous OIAs. 

I note the chief legal advisor for the MoH, Phil Knipe  has that that he
has Enforcement responsibilities, including oversight of enforcement of
breaches of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 (and associated
instruments) and Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.

Therefore your office must hold some of the requested information. 
Yours sincerely,

Erika Whittome

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Erika,
  
 Thank you for your request for information on 4 September 2025. 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]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
or by phoning 0800 802 602.
  

 Ngā mihi, 
  

 Michael

 Government Services (OIA) 

 [3][email address] 

 [4]A blue and white sign AI-generated content may be incorrect.

 Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora 

  
 Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
 attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
 legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
 disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have
 received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
 delete this message

References

 Visible links
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 2. file:///tmp/
 3. [3]mailto:[email address]

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #31908 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[4]https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 
Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message

References

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3. mailto:[email
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