To the Ministry of Social Development,

It was recently bought to my attention that a woman of my acquaintance was given funding through the help of the Ministry of Social Development for cosmetic breast surgery (enlargement). This was granted in either 2008 or 2009, I can't recall exactly. I was very concerned on learning this, given that the woman I refer to states that the surgery was purely for appearance/cosmetic purposes, rather than for treating any medical issue. What makes me most concerned, if the claims made are true, is that I am personally among many New Zealanders who have been turned down for funding from the New Zealand Government for surgical treatment of genuine medical conditions, (Jaw development problems in my own case), that have occurred naturally and were/are beyond our ability to control.

Under the Official Information Act, I request that the Ministry reveal the total number of past or present clients who have received MSD assistance in acquiring cosmetic surgical treatments within the past 10 years.

I am not requesting the names, or personal or identifying information of any past or present clients, I am simply asking for the numbers, and, as a taxpaying citizen, believe I should be entitled to know where Government money is being allocated. I would also like to know how many cosmetic surgeries were funded in each of the past 10 years specifically, and also gender specific numbers.

I am hoping, for the sake of New Zealanders needing assistance for genuine medical reasons, that these claims are either false or exaggerated.

Yours faithfully,

Aaron Goodwin-O'Neill