Office of Hon Matt Doocey
Minister for Mental Health
Associate Minister of Health
16 September 2025
RS Bicknell
fyi-request-31986-88811 [email address]
Dear R S Bicknell
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 18 August
2025 to the Office of Hon Matt Doocey, Minister for Mental Health 'and' Associate Minister of
Health. You requested:
"Has the Minister received any reports or correspondence pertaining to the unsafe
working conditions -
including bullying and harassment -
experienced by staff at
Hillmorton Hospital?
Has the Minister made any inquiries into such reports? If so, what was the nature of
these inquiries and on what date were they made?
Has the Minister fielded any media inquiries into reports of unsafe working conditions
at Hillmorton Hospital? If so, what was the nature of these inquiries and on what date
were they made
What steps is the Minister taking to be satisfied that a/legations pertaining to unsafe
working conditions (bullying and harassment) are being responded to appropriately?"
We have not received any reports or briefings specifically in relation to unsafe working
conditions - including bullying and harassment - experienced by staff at Hillmorton Hospital
from Health New Zealand.
You may be aware that the Director for Mental Health, from the Ministry of Health, recently
released a Section 99 Inspection report which is publicly available here:
www. health. govt. nz/publications/section-99-inspection-i nto-ca nterbury-waitaha-adult
i npatient-a nd-associated-menta I-hea Ith-services
The inspection was undertaken in 2022, and the report includes themes related to the
working environments and experiences of staff. These themes and findings have resulted in
a number of recommendations.
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand I +64 4 817 6812 I [email address]
