13 - Māori, Pacific, and equity involvement in ADHD related clinical frameworks
Elspeth Baker-Vevers 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: Elspeth Baker-Vevers
Kia ora,
I’m making this Official Information Act request as part of ADHDInquiryNZ, a grassroots, unfunded, and non-partisan volunteer initiative supporting a public petition calling for a Parliamentary inquiry into systemic harm to people with ADHD in Aotearoa. This request focuses on information held by your agency relating to equity, representation, and decision making in ADHD related clinical frameworks. Information gathered from this and related requests will help identify patterns across agencies and will contribute to the evidence provided to the Petitions Committee when the petition period closes. I appreciate the time involved in preparing OIA responses.
Please treat this as a request for official information under the OIA. I understand Manatū Hauora’s obligations under s 13, and that a decision should be made within 20 working days of receipt (transfer within 10 working days). If any part of this request requires clarification, please let me know no later than 5 working days from receipt. If an extension under s 15A is required, please state the reason and the length of extension. This request is confined to information held by Manatū Hauora; please do not transfer for commentary.
This request relates specifically to clinical frameworks, diagnostic principles, models of care, and related policy mechanisms that influence ADHD assessment and treatment in Aotearoa.
This request focuses on equity, representation, and decision-making in the development of ADHD-related clinical frameworks, rather than on implementation or rollout, which is addressed in a separate request.
Timeframe: This request covers the period 1 January 2018 to the date this request is received.
Format: Where datasets, tables, or modelling outputs are provided, I request they be supplied in machine-readable format (CSV or original spreadsheet file), along with any data dictionaries or field definitions.
Scope clarification to reduce unnecessary work
I am not seeking internal emails, drafts, or personal information about individuals unless they are the sole holders of the substantive information described.
If any part of this request is likely to be refused under s 18(f) due to substantial collation, please identify the specific part early so I can refine it.
Please provide the following:
1. Māori and Pacific involvement
Any documents, meeting minutes, membership lists, terms of reference, consultation notes, or correspondence describing Māori and Pacific involvement in:
-developing, reviewing, or approving ADHD related clinical frameworks
-diagnostic guidance, service design, or models of care
-decision-making groups or governance structures touching on ADHD
2. Consultation and co-design
Any records of engagement, consultation, or co-design with:
-Māori health providers
-Pacific health providers
-iwi organisations
-lived experience groups
-clinicians or consumer panels
where ADHD diagnosis, treatment, or service design was discussed.
3. Te Tiriti o Waitangi application
Any internal documents, frameworks, or advice outlining how Te Tiriti obligations were applied in:
-the ADHD Clinical Principles Framework
-any ADHD-related guideline development
-related policy or service design processes.
4. Equity assessments and external feedback
Any equity impact assessments, reviews, advice, or correspondence from:
-Te Aka Whai Ora
-Māori health advisors
-Pacific health advisors
-disability or equity teams within Manatū Hauora
concerning ADHD-related clinical frameworks or diagnostic principles.
5. Gender, cultural, and Rainbow+/Takatāpui equity
Any analysis, advice, consultation records, or impact assessments addressing:
-gender equity
-cultural equity
-Rainbow+/Takatāpui considerations
in ADHD related clinical frameworks or diagnostic guidance. If no such analysis exists, please confirm this.
6. Representation gaps
If Māori or Pacific peoples were not formally involved in these processes, or involvement was not recorded, please confirm this.
If information is not held
If Manatū Hauora does not hold some or all of the information requested, that absence also helps clarify how ADHD is currently recognised and governed within clinical decision making processes. Identifying these gaps is part of building the evidence base for an informed, coordinated response.
Please confirm if the information is not held, and include any documents that record a decision not to collect or monitor such information. If applicable, please indicate how related matters are categorised (for example, under neurodiversity, mental health, disability, or developmental conditions).
Ngā mihi,
Elspeth Baker-Vevers
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence (note: this contains the same information already available above).

