133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
18 December 2025
Chris McCashin
By email: [FYI request #32904 email]
Ref:
H2025077115
Dear Mr McCashin
Response to your request for official information
We have received your follow up request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the
Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) on 16 December 2025. You requested:
“Can you please provide funding per annum years 2000-2025
I find it odd that the Chief “science” advisor outright dismisses any link to cancer yet has
access to a pay-per-dose system that he wil not analyse despite flags being raised.
What by the way determines “causation” per HNZ?
Does HNZ need the person to drop dead on receipt of the vaccine like a lethal injection
rather than any healthy person dying with 24 - 80 hours of the vaccine before you count it
as “causation”
Your credibility is shot (no pun intended) and Mr Town might as well give up “science”
because he clearly isn’t competent and has no shame putting his signatory to this letter
that when this agency and him have no credibility
Is HNZ trying to recoup its name by escalating this and getting the “chief science advisor”
to respond?!
Another lie coming from a different title is stil a lie”
The Ministry responds to all requests in good faith and endeavours to respond to requests
fulsomely. We will not tolerate inappropriate language, and we encourage respectful dialogue to
address any concerns or issues effectively.
To clarify your request, the Ministry only holds this information for 2022 onwards. The Ministry
funded cancer research as part of the Equitable Cancer Outcomes Initiative from 2022 with
funding awarded over the life of each of the projects, as outlined in the table in the previous
response (H2025075789 refers).
The Ministry's Research and Evaluation Fund has also awarded funding to the "Proportion and
number of cancer cases (+/- deaths) attributable to modifiable exposures in New Zealand"
project which is ongoing. This project was awarded a total of $581,000 in 2024, with $369,500
allocated in 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial year. This project is being conducted by Massey
University.
In each case the funding is given for the duration of the project rather than being paid on a per
annum basis.
I trust this information fulfils your request. If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with
us, including this decision, please feel free to contact the OIA Services Team on:
[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:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests.
Yours sincerely
Dr Ian Town
Chief Science Advisor
Strategy and Policy | Te Pou Rautaki
Page 2 of 2
