Total cost of implementing medical certificate policy - Mid Central
Jaime Thatcher made this Official Information request to Health New Zealand
Response to this request is delayed. By law, Health New Zealand should normally have responded promptly and by (details and exceptions)
From: Jaime Thatcher
Dear Health New Zealand,
During the late November NZNO soft strike action, MidCentral made a policy requiring all Nurses to present a medical certificate for as little as one days sick leave. As per the Holidays Act, this cost is met by the employer.
I request a summary of the costs of exceuting this policy, as well as any documentation or discussions relevant to making the decision to implement the policy.
Yours faithfully,
Jaime Thatcher
From: hnzOIA
Tçnâ koe, Jaime
Thank you for your email.
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Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora
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From: hnzOIA
Kia ora Jaime,
Thank you for your request for information regarding total cost of
implementing medical certificate policy - Mid Central, received on 29
November 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,
Kelly
Government Services (OIA)
[3][email address]
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
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2. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
3. mailto:[email address]
From: Jaime Thatcher
Dear HNZ OIA,
Thank you for your response. However, I am concerned at your denial of industrial action specific sick leave related policy, and am concerned that you were unable to find any communication regarding this, considering mass communication was sent to staff.
I would reaffirm my initial request, I request all communication leading to the decision to require medical certificates for all sick leave from nursing staff for the November 2025 NZNO Industrial Action.
Please see the below email sent to all Nursing staff at MidCentral on 19/11/2025 at 12:15pm.
"Tēna Koutou Katoa,
We understand this is a difficult time for everyone as we navigate the current industrial action.
Unfortunately, due to the increasing sick leave and our ability to fill LPS requests, to manage patient safety across the organisation during the nursing strike, we are asking that medical certificates be provided for all short notice sick leave. If you provide us with an invoice and a receipt, we will reimburse the cost of these (this does not include Longterm ACC or sick leave which is covered by other medical certificates). To receive reimbursement provide your receipt and please fill in the reimbursement form.
When an LPS request is messaged to a group please can you respond if you are able to pick it up.
Thank you, {redacted - Chief Nurse}, and {redacted - Service Manager},
Ngā mihi nui
{redacted - Chief Nurse}"
Yours sincerely,
Jaime Thatcher
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