Transparency on Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Capital Financing, and Ownership Risks in Public Hospital Infrastructure
SPENCER JONES made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
Currently waiting for a response from Ministry of Health, they must respond promptly and normally no later than (details and exceptions).
From: SPENCER JONES
To: Chief Executive, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
cc: Director-General, Ministry of Health
Dear Chief Executive,
Under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), I request the following information in the public interest. Recent international examples, such as the UK’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes, have highlighted significant long-term financial risks and equity concerns in public hospital financing, including billions in locked-in debt and interest payments to private entities. In New Zealand, amid a reported $20 billion hospital infrastructure backlog and ongoing system reforms, there is growing public concern about the potential expansion of PPPs and private ownership models. This request seeks transparency to inform public debate on protecting equitable access to health services, in line with the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.
Please provide the following information, covering the period from 1 July 2019 (post-abolition of DHB capital charges) to the present (5 November 2025), unless otherwise specified. Where data is aggregated or anonymized for commercial sensitivity, please provide summaries or redacted versions with justifications under sections 9(2)(b) or (i) of the OIA.
PPP and Private Financing Models in Hospital Infrastructure:
A list of all current or proposed PPP arrangements (including build-operate-transfer, design-build-finance-operate, or service outsourcing contracts) for public hospital infrastructure or major projects (e.g., Dunedin Hospital Redevelopment, Christchurch Hospital, or Taranaki Base Hospital). For each, include:
Project name and scope.
Private partners involved (e.g., companies, consortia).
Total contract value, including any projected long-term payments (e.g., over 10-30 years).
Breakdown of financing sources (public equity/loans vs. private debt/equity).
Any risk assessments conducted on long-term costs, including interest equivalents or penalties.
Copies of any internal or external evaluations of PPP performance against key indicators (e.g., infection rates, waiting times, bed occupancy, cost efficiency), drawing from models like those prioritized in international studies (e.g., clinical outsourcing, BOO).
Historical Capital Charges and Legacy Impacts:
Total capital charges and interest on Crown loans paid by District Health Boards (DHBs) or Te Whatu Ora from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2022, broken down by DHB/region.
Post-2019 waiver: Details of any “legacy” financial burdens from pre-waiver charges (e.g., deferred maintenance costs, deficits linked to asset depreciation).
Evidence of how the abolition of capital charges has affected infrastructure spending, including underspend variances (e.g., against the $14 billion 10-year forecast) and any resulting safety/equity risks (e.g., hospital-acquired infections or access disparities for Māori/Pasifika communities).
Ownership Structures and Private Sector Involvement:
Current ownership breakdown for public hospital assets (e.g., buildings, equipment) valued over $10 million, including any private stakes (for-profit, not-for-profit, or foreign-owned).
Details of contracts with private providers for elective services or infrastructure support (e.g., 2024-2025 national agreements), including total spend, private owners (e.g., Southern Cross, offshore investors), and any cost-shifting from private to public sectors (e.g., complications handling).
Policy documents or briefings on trends in primary/community care corporatization (e.g., shifts to larger for-profit entities like Green Cross), including risks to continuity of care or equity.
Foreign Ownership and Risk Mitigation:
Any instances of foreign-owned entities (e.g., US, Australian, or other multinational companies like UnitedHealth equivalents) holding stakes in public hospital projects, financing, or service contracts.
Government Policy Statement on Health (2024-2027) implementation reports on private investment safeguards, including equity impact assessments for high-needs populations.
If any information is held by another agency (e.g., Treasury, Infrastructure Commission), please transfer or direct this request accordingly under section 16 of the OIA.
I request responses in electronic format (e.g., PDF/Excel) where possible, and within the 20-working-day timeframe. If withholding information, please provide clear reasons and consider partial releases in the public interest (section 9(2)(a)).
This request supports informed public discourse on sustainable, equitable health financing, avoiding pitfalls like those in the UK’s PFI (e.g., £21.1 billion in locked-in payments). Thank you for your assistance.
Kind regards, Spencer Jones
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Spencer
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act), received by the Ministry of Health on 5 November 2025. You
requested:
I request the following information in the public interest. Recent
international examples, such as the UK’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
schemes, have highlighted significant long-term financial risks and equity
concerns in public hospital financing, including billions in locked-in
debt and interest payments to private entities. In New Zealand, amid a
reported $20 billion hospital infrastructure backlog and ongoing system
reforms, there is growing public concern about the potential expansion of
PPPs and private ownership models. This request seeks transparency to
inform public debate on protecting equitable access to health services, in
line with the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
principles.
Please provide the following information, covering the period from 1 July
2019 (post-abolition of DHB capital charges) to the present (5 November
2025), unless otherwise specified. Where data is aggregated or anonymized
for commercial sensitivity, please provide summaries or redacted versions
with justifications under sections 9(2)(b) or (i) of the OIA.
PPP and Private Financing Models in Hospital Infrastructure:
A list of all current or proposed PPP arrangements (including
build-operate-transfer, design-build-finance-operate, or service
outsourcing contracts) for public hospital infrastructure or major
projects (e.g., Dunedin Hospital Redevelopment, Christchurch Hospital, or
Taranaki Base Hospital). For each, include:
Project name and scope.
Private partners involved (e.g., companies, consortia).
Total contract value, including any projected long-term payments (e.g.,
over 10-30 years).
Breakdown of financing sources (public equity/loans vs. private
debt/equity).
Any risk assessments conducted on long-term costs, including interest
equivalents or penalties.
Copies of any internal or external evaluations of PPP performance against
key indicators (e.g., infection rates, waiting times, bed occupancy, cost
efficiency), drawing from models like those prioritized in international
studies (e.g., clinical outsourcing, BOO).
Historical Capital Charges and Legacy Impacts:
Total capital charges and interest on Crown loans paid by District Health
Boards (DHBs) or Te Whatu Ora from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2022, broken
down by DHB/region.
Post-2019 waiver: Details of any “legacy” financial burdens from
pre-waiver charges (e.g., deferred maintenance costs, deficits linked to
asset depreciation).
Evidence of how the abolition of capital charges has affected
infrastructure spending, including underspend variances (e.g., against the
$14 billion 10-year forecast) and any resulting safety/equity risks (e.g.,
hospital-acquired infections or access disparities for Mâori/Pasifika
communities).
Ownership Structures and Private Sector Involvement:
Current ownership breakdown for public hospital assets (e.g., buildings,
equipment) valued over $10 million, including any private stakes
(for-profit, not-for-profit, or foreign-owned).
Details of contracts with private providers for elective services or
infrastructure support (e.g., 2024-2025 national agreements), including
total spend, private owners (e.g., Southern Cross, offshore investors),
and any cost-shifting from private to public sectors (e.g., complications
handling).
Policy documents or briefings on trends in primary/community care
corporatization (e.g., shifts to larger for-profit entities like Green
Cross), including risks to continuity of care or equity.
Foreign Ownership and Risk Mitigation:
Any instances of foreign-owned entities (e.g., US, Australian, or other
multinational companies like UnitedHealth equivalents) holding stakes in
public hospital projects, financing, or service contracts.
Government Policy Statement on Health (2024-2027) implementation reports
on private investment safeguards, including equity impact assessments for
high-needs populations.
If any information is held by another agency (e.g., Treasury,
Infrastructure Commission), please transfer or direct this request
accordingly under section 16 of the OIA.
I request responses in electronic format (e.g., PDF/Excel) where possible,
and within the 20-working-day timeframe. If withholding information,
please provide clear reasons and consider partial releases in the public
interest (section 9(2)(a)).
This request supports informed public discourse on sustainable, equitable
health financing, avoiding pitfalls like those in the UK’s PFI (e.g.,
£21.1 billion in locked-in payments). Thank you for your assistance.
The reference number for your request is H2025075088. As required under
the Act, the Ministry will endeavour to respond to your request no later
than 20 working days after the day your request was
received: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch ([2][email address]).
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatû Hauora
M[3]inistry of Health information releases
show quoted sections
References
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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Spencer
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to the Ministry of Health on 5 November 2025.
“Under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), I request the following
information in the public interest. Recent international examples, such as
the UK’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes, have highlighted
significant long-term financial risks and equity concerns in public
hospital financing, including billions in locked-in debt and interest
payments to private entities. In New Zealand, amid a reported $20 billion
hospital infrastructure backlog and ongoing system reforms, there is
growing public concern about the potential expansion of PPPs and private
ownership models. This request seeks transparency to inform public debate
on protecting equitable access to health services, in line with the Pae
Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.
Please provide the following information, covering the period from 1 July
2019 (post-abolition of DHB capital charges) to the present (5 November
2025), unless otherwise specified. Where data is aggregated or anonymized
for commercial sensitivity, please provide summaries or redacted versions
with justifications under sections 9(2)(b) or (i) of the OIA.
PPP and Private Financing Models in Hospital Infrastructure:
A list of all current or proposed PPP arrangements (including
build-operate-transfer, design-build-finance-operate, or service
outsourcing contracts) for public hospital infrastructure or major
projects (e.g., Dunedin Hospital Redevelopment, Christchurch Hospital, or
Taranaki Base Hospital). For each, include:
Project name and scope.
Private partners involved (e.g., companies, consortia).
Total contract value, including any projected long-term payments (e.g.,
over 10-30 years).
Breakdown of financing sources (public equity/loans vs. private
debt/equity).
Any risk assessments conducted on long-term costs, including interest
equivalents or penalties.
Copies of any internal or external evaluations of PPP performance against
key indicators (e.g., infection rates, waiting times, bed occupancy, cost
efficiency), drawing from models like those prioritized in international
studies (e.g., clinical outsourcing, BOO).
Historical Capital Charges and Legacy Impacts:
Total capital charges and interest on Crown loans paid by District Health
Boards (DHBs) or Te Whatu Ora from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2022, broken
down by DHB/region.
Post-2019 waiver: Details of any “legacy” financial burdens from
pre-waiver charges (e.g., deferred maintenance costs, deficits linked to
asset depreciation).
Evidence of how the abolition of capital charges has affected
infrastructure spending, including underspend variances (e.g., against the
$14 billion 10-year forecast) and any resulting safety/equity risks (e.g.,
hospital-acquired infections or access disparities for Māori/Pasifika
communities).
Ownership Structures and Private Sector Involvement:
Current ownership breakdown for public hospital assets (e.g., buildings,
equipment) valued over $10 million, including any private stakes
(for-profit, not-for-profit, or foreign-owned).
Details of contracts with private providers for elective services or
infrastructure support (e.g., 2024-2025 national agreements), including
total spend, private owners (e.g., Southern Cross, offshore investors),
and any cost-shifting from private to public sectors (e.g., complications
handling).
Policy documents or briefings on trends in primary/community care
corporatization (e.g., shifts to larger for-profit entities like Green
Cross), including risks to continuity of care or equity.
Foreign Ownership and Risk Mitigation:
Any instances of foreign-owned entities (e.g., US, Australian, or other
multinational companies like UnitedHealth equivalents) holding stakes in
public hospital projects, financing, or service contracts.
Government Policy Statement on Health (2024-2027) implementation reports
on private investment safeguards, including equity impact assessments for
high-needs populations.
If any information is held by another agency (e.g., Treasury,
Infrastructure Commission), please transfer or direct this request
accordingly under section 16 of the OIA.”
Your request asks for information which is more closely connected with the
functions of Health New Zealand. For this reason, the Ministry has decided
to transfer your request to Health New Zealand under section 14(b)(ii) of
the Act. You can expect a response from their agency in due course. Their
contact email is: [1][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: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
M[3]inistry of Health information releases
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: SPENCER JONES <[FOI #32744 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 5 November 2025 20:53
To: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Transparency on Public-Private
Partnerships (PPPs), Capital Financing, and Ownership Risks in Public
Hospital Infrastructure
To: Chief Executive, Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
cc: Director-General, Ministry of Health
Dear Chief Executive,
Under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA), I request the following
information in the public interest. Recent international examples, such as
the UK’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes, have highlighted
significant long-term financial risks and equity concerns in public
hospital financing, including billions in locked-in debt and interest
payments to private entities. In New Zealand, amid a reported $20 billion
hospital infrastructure backlog and ongoing system reforms, there is
growing public concern about the potential expansion of PPPs and private
ownership models. This request seeks transparency to inform public debate
on protecting equitable access to health services, in line with the Pae
Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.
Please provide the following information, covering the period from 1 July
2019 (post-abolition of DHB capital charges) to the present (5 November
2025), unless otherwise specified. Where data is aggregated or anonymized
for commercial sensitivity, please provide summaries or redacted versions
with justifications under sections 9(2)(b) or (i) of the OIA.
PPP and Private Financing Models in Hospital Infrastructure:
A list of all current or proposed PPP arrangements (including
build-operate-transfer, design-build-finance-operate, or service
outsourcing contracts) for public hospital infrastructure or major
projects (e.g., Dunedin Hospital Redevelopment, Christchurch Hospital, or
Taranaki Base Hospital). For each, include:
Project name and scope.
Private partners involved (e.g., companies, consortia).
Total contract value, including any projected long-term payments (e.g.,
over 10-30 years).
Breakdown of financing sources (public equity/loans vs. private
debt/equity).
Any risk assessments conducted on long-term costs, including interest
equivalents or penalties.
Copies of any internal or external evaluations of PPP performance against
key indicators (e.g., infection rates, waiting times, bed occupancy, cost
efficiency), drawing from models like those prioritized in international
studies (e.g., clinical outsourcing, BOO).
Historical Capital Charges and Legacy Impacts:
Total capital charges and interest on Crown loans paid by District Health
Boards (DHBs) or Te Whatu Ora from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2022, broken
down by DHB/region.
Post-2019 waiver: Details of any “legacy” financial burdens from
pre-waiver charges (e.g., deferred maintenance costs, deficits linked to
asset depreciation).
Evidence of how the abolition of capital charges has affected
infrastructure spending, including underspend variances (e.g., against the
$14 billion 10-year forecast) and any resulting safety/equity risks (e.g.,
hospital-acquired infections or access disparities for Māori/Pasifika
communities).
Ownership Structures and Private Sector Involvement:
Current ownership breakdown for public hospital assets (e.g., buildings,
equipment) valued over $10 million, including any private stakes
(for-profit, not-for-profit, or foreign-owned).
Details of contracts with private providers for elective services or
infrastructure support (e.g., 2024-2025 national agreements), including
total spend, private owners (e.g., Southern Cross, offshore investors),
and any cost-shifting from private to public sectors (e.g., complications
handling).
Policy documents or briefings on trends in primary/community care
corporatization (e.g., shifts to larger for-profit entities like Green
Cross), including risks to continuity of care or equity.
Foreign Ownership and Risk Mitigation:
Any instances of foreign-owned entities (e.g., US, Australian, or other
multinational companies like UnitedHealth equivalents) holding stakes in
public hospital projects, financing, or service contracts.
Government Policy Statement on Health (2024-2027) implementation reports
on private investment safeguards, including equity impact assessments for
high-needs populations.
If any information is held by another agency (e.g., Treasury,
Infrastructure Commission), please transfer or direct this request
accordingly under section 16 of the OIA.
I request responses in electronic format (e.g., PDF/Excel) where possible,
and within the 20-working-day timeframe. If withholding information,
please provide clear reasons and consider partial releases in the public
interest (section 9(2)(a)).
This request supports informed public discourse on sustainable, equitable
health financing, avoiding pitfalls like those in the UK’s PFI (e.g.,
£21.1 billion in locked-in payments). Thank you for your assistance.
Kind regards, Spencer Jones
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #32744 email]
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to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
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show quoted sections
From: SPENCER JONES
Kia ora Te Whatu Ora OIA Team,
I’m following up on the transfer notice dated 10 November 2025 from the Ministry of Health regarding my OIA request lodged via FYI.org.nz (Ref #32744 – Transparency on Public-Private Partnerships in Public Hospital Infrastructure).
Please confirm:
That the request was received and registered under a new reference number;
The expected due date for response (20 working days from transfer under s 15 OIA); and
Whether any consultation or transfer to other agencies (e.g. Treasury or Te Waka Kaupapa Rautaki Hanganga Infrastructure Commission) is under way.
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
From: hnzOIA
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.
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From: hnzOIA
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Kia ora Spencer
Please find attached our automated acknowledgement confirming that your
Official Information Act request is currently being assessed by Health New
Zealand. We will be in touch if any consultation with or transfer to
another agency becomes necessary as part of that process.
Ngā mihi
Cassandra
Government Services
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
From: OIA Requests <[1][email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, 11 November 2025 8:01 am
To: hnzOIA <[2][email address]>
Subject: Fw: Transfer of your request for official information, ref:
H2025075088
Kia ora Team,
Please see the below.
Ngā mihi
Sarah
OIA Services Team
Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora
M[3]inistry of Health information releases
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: SPENCER JONES <[4][FOI #32744 email]>
Sent: Monday, 10 November 2025 15:22
To: OIA Requests <[5][email address]>
Subject: Re: Transfer of your request for official information, ref:
H2025075088
Kia ora Te Whatu Ora OIA Team,
I’m following up on the transfer notice dated 10 November 2025 from the
Ministry of Health regarding my OIA request lodged via FYI.org.nz (Ref
#32744 – Transparency on Public-Private Partnerships in Public Hospital
Infrastructure).
Please confirm:
That the request was received and registered under a new reference number;
The expected due date for response (20 working days from transfer under s
15 OIA); and
Whether any consultation or transfer to other agencies (e.g. Treasury or
Te Waka Kaupapa Rautaki Hanganga Infrastructure Commission) is under way.
Kind regards,
Spencer Jones
show quoted sections
SPENCER JONES left an annotation ()
Kia ora—building on my initial annotation (Nov 10, 2025), this update tracks related Official Information Act (OIA) requests on FYI.org.nz, while weaving in fresh context from NZ media, academic analyses, and government reports. As Te Whatu Ora assesses my request (Ref: HNZ00103034, due ~Dec 9, 2025), these resources highlight patterns of fragmented transparency in health infrastructure financing: rare but growing mentions of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), persistent legacy burdens from capital charges, and expanding private contracts amid a $20 billion hospital backlog. This isn’t just archival—it’s a call to cross-reference for deeper advocacy on equitable, Te Tiriti-aligned health funding, avoiding UK PFI-style traps (e.g., £21.1B in locked-in debt).
Tracking Similar Requests on FYI: Patterns in Health Financing OIAs
FYI’s search reveals a sparse but telling trail of queries on PPPs, capital charges, and private involvement in health—mostly to Ministry of Health (MoH), Te Whatu Ora, or Treasury. Direct hits on hospital infrastructure are few (PPPs remain niche in NZ), but themes cluster around outsourcing risks, DHB-era debts, and elective services contracts. Key patterns:
• Low Volume on PPPs: Only ~5-7 requests touch PPPs in health since 2020, often tangential (e.g., COVID-19 tech trials via public-private groups). This mirrors MoH’s line that PPPs “have not been used for major redevelopments” due to complexities. But watch for upticks post-2024 Infrastructure Commission guidance promoting PPPs for “risk transfer.”
• Capital Charges Legacy: Queries spike around 2018-2022 abolition, focusing on DHB impacts (e.g., deferred maintenance). E.g., #8946 (Treasury, 2015) on state productivity includes DHB depreciation/charges; #18330 (2022) debates their exclusion in budgeting. Pattern: Agencies often release aggregated data but withhold DHB-specific breakdowns, citing “commercial sensitivity.”
• Private Providers & Outsourcing: Rising since Te Whatu Ora’s formation—e.g., #30732 (Apr 2025) probes ophthalmology PPPs with private specialists. Cross-ref #32744’s own scope on Southern Cross contracts.
Top Similar Requests to Follow (search FYI for “PPP health” or “capital charges DHB”):
• #30732: Ophthalmologist Phillip Polkinghorne – Relations with Public Health Sector – Explores PPPs in elective ophthalmology; partial success, reveals private-public ties.
• #8946: Measuring State Sector Productivity – Treasury data on DHB capital charges/depreciation; useful for legacy impacts.
• #18330: OIA 20220028 – Information for Release – Budgeting debates post-abolition; highlights underspend risks.
• Broader cluster: Search FYI for “Te Whatu Ora private contracts” yields ~10 hits on 2024-2025 outsourcing, often redacted for “negotiation sensitivity.”
Pro Tip: Use FYI’s “Similar Requests” tab or advanced search (e.g., agency:Treasury “health infrastructure”). If patterns show consistent withholding, bundle complaints to the Ombudsman for systemic review.
Broader Context: Insights from NZ Media, Academia & Gov Reports
Deep dives across sources (Nov 2025) underscore urgency: NZ’s health infra is crumbling (e.g., leaky roofs risking infections), with PPPs pitched as a fix but shadowed by equity/cost risks. Private outsourcing surges (e.g., $1B+ in electives to Southern Cross), yet transparency lags—echoing your request’s call for safeguards.
• Government Reports: PPP Potential vs. Risks
◦ MoH Briefing (H2024042849, May 2025): PPPs untried for major hospitals (e.g., Dunedin) due to “high costs/risks,” but Treasury/Infrastructure Commission tout benefits like private financing for the $20B backlog. Follow-up: Proactive release on PPP “value for money” framework emphasizes outperforming traditional models.
◦ Te Whatu Ora’s 10-Year Health Infrastructure Plan (Sep 2025): Flags $20B need; PPPs “more likely successful” for complex builds, but warns of scale barriers. Includes equity assessments for Māori/Pasifika access.
◦ Infrastructure Commission (2024): Refreshed PPP guidance for health; “strategic leasing” as alternative to full PPPs, targeting hospitals.
• Media Coverage: Backlog & Private Shift
◦ RNZ (Apr 2025): “$20B funding needed” for rundown hospitals; poor management admits “patient care affected” by delays—ties directly to capital charge legacies. 65 NZ Herald echoes: ED upgrades/carparks in plan, but PPP risks unaddressed.
◦ NZ Doctor (Aug/Oct 2025): Te Whatu Ora slammed for “secrecy” on private contracts (e.g., Southern Cross 2024-25 deals worth $500M+ electives); risks of cost-shifting (public handles complications). 37 41 Warnings on outsourcing risks “blanked” by ministers.
• Academic Analyses: Equity & Long-Term Risks
◦ Otago University (2025): Scoping review on PPPs for universal coverage; NZ models lag, with SSA lessons on “profit-driven” inequities—urges Te Tiriti impact assessments.
◦ Auckland/Easton (2024-25): Outsourcing in public health “not obvious” for value; critiques PPPs in professional-dominated sectors like hospitals. Capital charge abolition (2018) freed funds but led to underspends ($14B forecast gap). ASMS (doctors) long pushed abolition to curb DHB deficits.
Why This Matters for Followers
This OIA ecosystem reveals gaps in accountability: Agencies release high-level plans but redact deal specifics, fueling concerns over foreign stakes (e.g., Australian investors in Southern Cross) and equity disparities. For Māori/Pasifika communities, per Pae Ora, unmitigated PPPs could exacerbate access issues amid the backlog. Track via FYI alerts or #NZHealthPPPs on X—share your own requests to build momentum. If Te Whatu Ora withholds, I’ll annotate outcomes here.
Cross-Refs: Link to Treasury PPP guidance (treasury.govt.nz) or Infrastructure Pipeline (infrastructurepipeline.org.nz/projects/new-dunedin-hospital).
Kind regards, Spencer Jones
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SPENCER JONES left an annotation ()
Annotation for Public Readers & Cross-Reference
This OIA investigates **Public-Private Partnership (PPP)** arrangements, capital financing, and ownership risks in New Zealand’s public hospital infrastructure (2019 – present).
* **Status (10 Nov 2025):** Transferred from the Ministry of Health to **Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand** under s 14(b)(ii) OIA. Awaiting acknowledgment and response reference.
Why It Matters
The UK experience with PFIs shows the long-term risks of private-finance hospital models.
Recent research by Dr Julia Patterson revealed that:
69 NHS Trusts in England are locked into paying **£21.1 billion** over the next two decades to private companies because of PFI contracts.
* In the past five years alone, NHS Trusts spent **£1.2 billion** repaying principal and **£1.8 billion** on interest.
* Ownership tracing shows major foreign healthcare corporations, including **United Health Group (US)**, now hold stakes in several UK PFI projects.
These figures illustrate how PPP-style hospital deals can create **multi-decade debt traps**, shifting control and profits offshore while constraining local health budgets.
New Zealand Context
New Zealand faces a **$20 billion hospital-redevelopment backlog**, with increasing talk of “alternative financing models.” Although an MoH briefing (H2024042849) claims PPPs “have not been used for major redevelopments,” this OIA seeks to verify:
* whether **private-capital or ownership structures** exist in current or proposed hospital projects,
* how risk and debt are allocated between public and private partners, and
* what safeguards protect Pae Ora and Te Tiriti equity obligations.
Cross-Reference
Related transparency themes:
* **Smart Meter Safety OIA #31857** – fragmented accountability and “no records” responses.
* **Treasury & Infrastructure Commission** – likely holders of any PPP financing or risk-allocation analyses.
This request aims to ensure **full public visibility of financing models** shaping New Zealand’s health-infrastructure future, learning from the **UK’s costly PFI legacy**.
Link to this